The relative weakness which has recently been observed in the scrap and steel markets in Turkey and Asia has put pressure on Iranian suppliers of semi-finished products in particular. Though prices have increased slightly in the latest slab tender, buyers in Asia and other destinations are expected to ask for discounts in the coming weeks.
Accordingly, SteelOrbis has learned of a fresh tender for 30,000 mt of steel slab closed by one of the major steel producers in Iran at $639/mt FOB BIK Iran, up by $7/mt from the producer’s sale, but $11/mt lower than the initially targeted price. As the material is said to be destined for Southeast Asia, the price corresponds to about $671/mt on CFR basis in Southeast Asia, adding freight costs. As SteelOrbis reported earlier this week, the most recent bookings for Russian origin slabs in the Asian market were done at $680/mt CFR and slightly below.