Offer levels for standard Russian billet for March–April shipment are mostly heard in the mid-to-upper $440s per tonne FOB Black Sea. The most commonly discussed range is $445–448/t FOB, while a smaller number of mills are testing higher targets around $450–453/t FOB. However, these higher indications are facing resistance and are not widely considered workable in current negotiations.
Availability for prompt shipment is tightening. Market participants report that only a few producers still have open volumes for mid-to-late March loading, and these lots are limited. Most suppliers are now focusing on early and mid-April shipment windows, which supports their reluctance to reduce prices.
In Türkiye, Russian billet continues to be quoted, but transaction activity remains thin. Offers are circulating near $460–465/t CFR, roughly equivalent to the low-to-mid $440s/t FOB Black Sea. Turkish buyers’ price targets are lower, around $455/t CFR or below, and traders report that most offers are not considered actionable under present market conditions.
Across North Africa, buying interest is uneven. Egyptian consumers report little active CIS billet offering, as expected price levels are viewed as too high for the market. Trade sources suggest that any firm proposals would likely exceed $470/t CFR Egypt, limiting deal potential. Tunisia has seen at least one confirmed purchase, with a March-shipment cargo of about 15,000 tonnes reportedly sold at around $463/t CFR, corresponding to approximately $435–440/t FOB Black Sea equivalent.
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