The market continues to look for a clear direction, with the policy decisions of the Central Bank and the sales performance of Kardemir standing out as the main reference points in the short term. Although the Turkish steel market is currently experiencing a temporary slowdown, elevated input costs are limiting any sharp downward movement and continue to support the upside potential.
Following the strong upward trend observed in the long steel segment in previous weeks, producers have started to soften their prices in an effort to stimulate both domestic and export demand. However, the lack of a significant improvement in sales volumes highlights the ongoing weakness on the demand side. In the latter part of the week, domestic rebar prices showed a slight downward adjustment despite increasing energy costs and firm import scrap levels.
In the export market, Turkish producers’ rebar offers for May shipment declined to $595-615/t FOB, compared to $600-620/t FOB in the previous week. This shift indicates that competitive pressure in international markets is pushing producers toward more flexible pricing strategies.
Domestically, price levels continue to vary by region. Rebar prices in Izmir are observed at $610/t, while the Marmara region stands at around $620/t. In the Iskenderun region, some producers have reportedly raised their offers to $610/t. This divergence suggests that the market lacks a unified pricing structure and is instead shaped by regional dynamics.
In the semi-finished segment, domestic square billet offers are reported at $540-550/t EXW. On the import side, Russian billet is offered at $495-500/t CFR, while buyers estimate workable levels closer to $490/t CFR. Chinese semi-finished materials can be booked at $510-515/t EXW, compared to $500-515/t CFR levels seen a week earlier.
Overall, while weak demand continues to exert pressure on prices, strong cost support is preventing any sharp declines. Going forward, market direction will likely depend on the balance between demand conditions and cost-side developments.
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