It is reported that the prices of hot rolled plates to North Europe are drastically jumping with offers from China becoming almost competitive.Traders are actually offering Prime Plates from 2nd tier Chinese Mills at prices ranging between EUR 600 per tonne to EUR 650 per tonne effective FOT Antwerp, depending on thickness and quality.
A typical offer, from a major UK based trading house, floating among Italian buyers is as under
Mill - Tianjin
Item - Plates 4 sides cut
Shipment from China - June
Base grade - Grade S 235JR B
MTC 3.1B, CE, 14 er Analyse
Certification - MTC 3.1B, CE, 14 er Analyse
Length - 12.000mm
Width - 2500 mm
Base price - EUR 600 per tonne for 15mm to 30mm
Delivery - FOT Antwerp
Thickness extras
10mm to 15 mm - EUR 10 per tonne
30mm to 60 mm - EUR 5 per tonne
Quality extra
For S355J2+N - EUR 50 per tonne
In South Europe HRP from China are offered at levels around USD 770 per tonne CIF FO base + extras with payment LC at 90 days from BL date. This is more or less equivalent to offers of North Europe but customers are quite reluctant to book at such levels, mainly because June shipment is leading to get plate availability for selling only by September which is too far and too unpredictable for committing. On the other hand also South Europe Plate producers are increasing prices which have recently reached the EUR 600 per tonne nominal levels with bookings remaining quite volatile and seldom.
On the other hand, domestic mills have apparently increased again prices that are now reaching as high as EUR 650 per tonne EXW for commercial quality S235JR and expect to further increase for June July deliveries.
However, demand remains low and buyers are booking only quantities strictly necessary to their inventories.