Average offer prices for ex-China wire rod have remained stable over the past week, while the domestic market has been not as bullish after the Labor Day holiday as had been expected. Nevertheless, ASEAN-based wire rod exporters have been insisting on higher prices compared to the pre-holiday period, as the lowest non-VAT offers from China are still limited and suppliers have been hoping for better in distant markets.
Offers for ex-China wire rod from second-tier steel mills have been heard at $530-540/mt FOB, moving sideways on average compared to last week, while reference deal prices have been heard at $520-530/mt FOB, as these levels are in line with non-VAT offers, which still exist but which are far scarcer.
In the Chinese domestic market, demand for wire rod has been slack, while inventory has been declining, which has bolstered prices to a certain degree. Meanwhile, raw material prices, including import iron ore prices and local coke prices have moved up, providing support for wire rod prices. However, ferrous metal futures prices have declined since May 8, reflecting market players’ cautious sentiments. It is expected that wire rod prices in the Chinese domestic market will likely fluctuate within a limited range in the coming week.
Wire rod offer prices from Indonesia’s Dexin have been heard at $530-535/mt FOB, and, even though some official offers were even heard at $540/mt FOB last week, the prices have posted an increase from $525/mt FOB in late April and the deals at close to $520/mt FOB at that time. Offer prices of ex-Malaysia wire rod have been heard at $535/mt FOB and above, while prices of from Vietnam’s Hoa Phat have been heard at $540-545/mt FOB, moving up from $530-540/mt FOB.
The tradable level for import wire rod in Southeast Asia has also moved up amid a lack of non-VAT offers from China. The lowest level has been reported at $540-545/mt CFR in offers from China, while ASEAN offers are at $550/mt CFR to the Philippines and Thailand. Buyers are assessing the tradable level at not above $530-535/mt CFR Southeast Asia, up by $10/mt over the past two weeks.
As of May 9, rebar futures at Shanghai Futures Exchange are standing at RMB 3,669/mt ($517/mt), remaining stable since April 25, while down 0.89 percent compared to the previous trading day, May 8.
$1 = RMB 7.1028