<span>The situation with CIS flats exports, which started to get complicated in late February, has become even worse this week. In spite of the fact that exporters trade May production of flats already, they have had to reduce prices again to sign deals. Russian and Ukrainian mills have dropped their flats quotations by $10-15/t over the past week. However, the suppliers who find it really difficult to attract buyers will be forced to cut prices further to fill May order book. Nevertheless, some producers, who have almost sold out their May production and plan to offer flats to be manufactured in late May-early June after Easter, may raise their prices. Russia's MMK has reportedly sold some 50,000 t of HRC to the Far East at $695/t FOB Vladivostok and intends to sign new contracts at prices no lower than $710/t FOB. At the same time, the producer's similar material is offered to the countries where quotas on imports are not imposed at $680-690/t FOB Novorossiysk, $10/t down over the past week. May production of MMK's HRC is quoted to Iran at $690/t C&F (about $670/t FOB Astrakhan) and that of CRC – at $810/t C&F ($790/t FOB Astrakhan). <br> Ukraine's Zaporizhstal has not yet filled its May order book. However, market operators report that the producer tends to accept the buyers' bids during negotiations. At the same time, buyers bid at levels on average $25-50/t below last week’s initial prices, depending on destination and product. <br> Besides, Airol Metals AG has reportedly sold Zaporizhstal's HRC to Turkey at $640-650/t FOB Nikolayev (around $625-635/t CPT), $55-60/t down m-o-m. Quotations of the producer's CR flats have fallen to $760/t FOB Nikolayev ($745/t CPT), $40-55/t down. <br> Prices for May production of Ukrainian HRC from Ilyich to the Middle East and North Africa have dropped to $625-630/t FOB Mariupol or $650-660/t FOB Odessa over the past week, $10-15/t down. The material is quoted to Turkey at $630/t FOB Mariupol ($650/t C&F). At the same time, a large batch of HRC (30,000 t) has been reportedly sold to India at $708/t C&F Mumbai June shipment (about $655-660/t FOB Odessa). Quotations of the material to Eastern Europe have lost some $15/t. <br> ( Source : <a href="http://www.metalexpert-group.com/"><span><u><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">www.metalexpert-group.com</font></u></span></a> )</span>