Imported billet sold at higher prices to Thailand Far east / Steel Semis

Billet import prices jumped in Thailand, following the upward trend in other South- east Asian countries. Some suppliers managed to get orders at higher levels.

offers from most countries, except for Iran, were recently coming to Thailand at

$430-440/t CFR, up $10/t from last week’s levels. Some contracts were also concluded in this range, whereas lower offer prices were not accepted in this market in late November. Indian 2 sp, 3 sp billets were sold at $430-435/t CFR Thailand for February shipment, while similar Malaysian semis were booked at $440/t CFR for March shipment. “Such a high level was accepted, because it was material for wire rod production,” a major Bangkok-based trader told Metal expert. “There are three buyers in Thailand, who cannot purchase from Iran, so they have to accept higher prices,” another source commented.

offers from Iran were heard in the country at $425-430/t CFR, indicating a $15/t jump over the week. There was no information about deals at the time of publication. “It seems to be a very steep rise, so buyers prefer not to make purchases,”  atrader in Thailand.

In the Philippines, offers of 3 sp and 5 sp billets (120-130 mm) from Russia and Vietnam were coming at $435/t CFR. Deals for 100 mm and 130 mm billets were made at $435-440/t CFR last week.

There was information about 50,000 t of Ukrainian billet sold to Indonesia slightly below $435/t CFR this week, but both the supplier and the customer have not con- firmed the bargain at the time of    publication.