Türkiye's imported scrap prices has increased

As mid-January approaches, the continued upward trend in US scrap prices is being attributed not to a clear recovery in steel demand, but rather to ongoing supply-side constraints. Winter conditions are slowing scrap collection activities and complicating logistics, while seasonal tightening combined with continued restocking needs is creating a tight market balance. In line with price movements in the Türkiye market, export-side target levels have been pushed higher, and following the increases seen in the obsolete scrap segment in January, competition with domestic US mills has become more pronounced. Baltic-origin HMS 80:20 scrap to the Marmara region was assessed at $373/ton CFR Türkiye, while HMS 90:10 scrap from the US West Coast to the Aegean region was at $374/ton. US-origin HMS 90:10 scrap delivered to the Marmara region stood at $381/ton, with bonus scrap assessed at $396/ton.

The short-term direction of the market continues to be driven less by uncertainty in steel demand and more by mills’ actual scrap intake rates and prevailing supply conditions. Turkish mills’ preference to wait for new and clearer supply offers has led to a firmer pricing stance on the seller side, while weakening margins are pushing buyers toward a more cautious purchasing strategy. Under current conditions, the scrap market is exhibiting a sideways, direction-seeking outlook in the short term, with market participants increasingly factoring downside risks into their assessments.