Billet
Billet price
improved slightly last week, reaching an average of USD 327/mt ex-work
including 9% VAT by the weekend from USD 315/mt by beginning of the week. The
main reason for the increase was upward exchange rate, which began to rise from
last Sunday. On Monday, Arfaa Steel co sold its billet at IME at USD 302 /mt.
The mill last sale 10 days before was USD 298/mt. Rumors of billet price hike were heard at IME
as profit margins of the producers had fallen sharply, but the Ministry of Industry,
mine and trade announced new regulations about billet purchase which will make
Iran billet market participants limited if being performed. But generally,
market participants believed that decisions like this which has been chosen
last year too won't be practical and won't affect our market much.
Long
Products
Average price of debar,
which was USD 365/mt on Saturday, reached USD 371/mt ex-work including 9% VAT on
Wednesday, and I-beam price increased from USD 365 /mt to USD 373 /mt ex-work
including 9% VAT.
Long products market
is very sensitive at the moment due to its very small depth and shrinkage. Because
of the fact that the ratio of production to installed capacity is low and is
about 40% lower overall, so any increase in the price, will rise supply level and
again leads to a decrease in price.
Long products
production capacity is high and we have to increase export level for market
improvement. Iranian billet was offered at $ 390 /mt FOB a week ago, but rebar
was $ 370 /mt at the Iranian borders.
However, cost of
rebar worldwide is at least $ 12 to $ 15 higher than billet. Iranian
authorities know this, but continues to issue inadequate instructions. Market
insiders believe that in this condition expanding export market would help
domestic market too.
Flat
Products
Price of 2mm thickness
HRC was announced in Isfahan on Saturday at USD 486/mt and at USD 451 /mt
ex-work in Ahwaz, but since Saturday sellers resisted against any lose and the
market improved until Wednesday when HRC in Isfahan reached USD 495/mt and in
Ahwaz reached USD 477/mt.
Domestic supply of
slab is limited due to higher export of past few months but if the export level
decline due to sanctions, prices will naturally fall again.
Mobarakeh Steel co
HRC thickness 3 to 15 mm faced a rise in price from USD 494 /mt to USD 501/mt.
Unlike previous weeks, thicknesses below 6mm were offered and this helped price
stability.
Oxin and Kavian co
HRP improved slightly. Average price of Oxin HRP rose from USD 456/mt to USD 461/mt. Kavian co product, 12 to 25 mm
thickness, rose from USD 450/mt to USD 455/mt. The reason for the price increase
was resistance of sellers, while demand remained unchanged, and the possibility
of a decline was not unlikely.
CRC average price of
thickness 0.40 mm to 2 mm rose from USD 632/mt to USD 635/mt. It is not yet CRC
consumption season, but in the second half of year the effect of demand level
on prices will be more clear.
HDG, which was
priced at USD 718/mt last Saturday, reached USD 731/mt on Wednesday. Higher
ex-rate has a serious impact on improving price of this product.
-----------------------------
CBI
weekly average ex-rate for Steel Products (SANA): 115.223 Rials / 1USD
28
July, 2019
----------------------------------------------
Iran
Steel News Bulletin