Billet
Billet price surged upward during last week in Iran. By Saturday, Billet Size 150 mm was priced at USD692/mt on truck in Anzali including 5% VAT, it increased to USD713/mt by Monday.
By end of the week, Khouzestan Steel Mill''s billet price was up by USD29/mt compared to latest deals and was sold at USD641/mt at IME. It seems that Iran Mercantile Exchange has stopped persisting against retail market upward trend. But traders finally stopped offering hoping for more increases in billet price.
Korean origin billet which was offered at USD676/mt on truck in Imam Khomeini port including 5% VAT by Tuesday, was around USD684/mt a day after and then traders stopped dealing.
Billet import level to Iran has dropped to its lowest monthly level during last 4 years by declining to 48,000 mt during last Iranian month ( 21 Dec-19 Jan) as it is faced with many difficulties at the moment.
Supply level at IME was around 262,000 mt during last month. 5 month ago( 22 Jul-21 Aug), billet supply level at IME was almost the same as last month but import level was around 265,000 mt during same period not as low as last month.
Market participants expect billet price to be more than USD733/mt on truck in Iranian ports if current situation in import market continues. But if this happen, long products prices should cost more than USD814/mt.
Long Products
Long products started third week of 2013 with a positive sentiment. Low inventory level has made sellers interested in purchasing. Market sentiment was upward with debar price rising from USD719/mt a week ago to USD758/mt including 5% VAT. Average I-beam price rised from USD721/mt to USD756/mt during last week. Main reason behind such rises was higher long products prices at IME which rose by USD33/mt during last week in Iran.
Other long products prices were upward too during last week and is expected to continue rising as supply level is low. Some market participants expect a downward trend after a while as last 2 month of every year market faces with lack of demand.
Flat Products
Flat products market was generally stable during last week in Iran. But some sizes experienced surge in prices. HRC 2 mm thickness was almost stable at USD891/mt on truck in Anzali including 5% VAT.
HRC with thickness lower than 6 mm was up by USD20/mt and for thickness 6-15 mm was up by USD12/mt. HRC thickness higher than 15 mm is facing with supply shortage. Oxin Steel Mill have problem in delivering parcels and Kavian Steel production level has bottomed, besides import level has declined too. Some sizes of HRC especially thickness 20 and 30 mm were up by USD41/mt. Due to the problems in supply level, some more increase is expected in prices.
CRC market was in a positive trend and its price was upward by USD12-28/mt due to supply shortage and higher ex-rate.
HDG market was almost unchanged as lack of demand didn''t let prices improve, but some participants were hopeful about higher prices in coming days.
( Ex-rate: In Exchange Room: Rials24,588/USD )
Iran Steel Service Center