Billet
Average
price of billet size 125 and 150 mm started last week at USD 676 /mt ex-work
including 9% VAT on Saturday, till last Monday it followed the upward trend of
a week ago to reach USD 723 /mt. By Tuesday onward started declining to USD 703/mt
ex-work including 9% VAT. Average price of the week was USD 707/mt ex-work
including 9% VAT, USD 75/mt higher than a week ago.
Market
was faced with some positive changes such as canceling zinc trade limitations
at IME and its export obstacles
improved. DRI export also became free. But
slab and billet export still are in some troubles. Many market participants
expect downward trend of billet in Iran market continue in coming weeks. A main
reason is DRI price which has declined by 10% to USD 291/mt. This downward
trend has made market players more worried and staying out of the market.
Long products
Long
products were upward during last week. Average price of debar diameter 8-32 mm
improved from USD 813 /mt to USD 871/mt ex-work including 9% VAT. Monday had
the highest price of USD 878/mt. But warehouses were full of cheap cargoes
purchased previous weeks, therefore mills were not successful in increasing
sales. In comings days this sale competition will continue and prices will be
downward. It is winter time and demand of construction steel is also scarce.
Average
price of I-beam size 14,16,18 mm also dropped during last week from USD
43300/mt to USD 42500/mt ex-work Esfahan including 9% VAT. Market insiders do
not expect a positive sentiment in coming weeks.
Flat products
HRC
2 mm thickness was offered during last week by Saba Steel co at USD 1024/mt by beginning
of the week and rose to USD 1214/mt ex-work including 9% VAT till last Monday. Ahwaz Rolling and Pipe Co HRC rose by USD 71/mt
to USD 1095 /mt ex-work including 9% VAT. But slab price was downward, this
will make HRC price decline in near future.
Thickness
3-15 mm experienced some up and downs during last week from USD 1003 /mt to USD
1050.5/mt and then again down to USD 1045/mt ex-work including 9% VAT. Market
confidence has damaged and players are not interested in purchasing.
Oxin
co HRP market was almost stable. Average price of sizes 10-40 mm rose from USD 928.5/mt
to USD 951/mt due to limited supply of thicknesses 8-15 mm. Generally, HRP
market sentiment is also not positive.
CRC
market improved a little during last week in Iran as its average price rose
from USD 1526/mt to USD 1570/mt ex-work including 9% VAT. But its demand is
limited.
HDG
was the only products which its price improved in real. Higher zinc price
helped HDG thickness 0.40-1.5 mm rose from USD 1794.5/mt to USD 1838/mt ex-work
including 9% VAT.
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Official
Ex-rate (CBI):
Rials 42,000/1USD
Dec 31,
2018
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Iran
Steel News Bulletin