AQS seeks foreign wire rod grade billet North Africa / Billet

Algerian Qatari Steel (AQS), one of the key long steel suppliers in Algeria, is interested in billet imports now in order to restock before it reaches the integrated production cycle.

AQS has opened a tender for 20,000 t of billet for wire rod production (SAE1006 and SAE1008), Metal Expert learnt. The semis are required for prompt shipment, since there is an urgent need in restocking. The tender is likely to be closed in the coming days, according to the company source.

It is worth mentioning that AQS has started hot trials at its melt shop at the end of November and is aiming to become self-sufficient in own billets. However, until the launch of the DRI module, the supplier has to buy the semis from abroad. A couple of pellet cargoes have already been shipped to the production facility.

CIS billet is now on offer to Algeria at $420-425/t CFR for January shipment, Metal expert reported. latest deals were concluded at around $420/t CFR and below.