- UAE market activity to gradually resume post-holiday
- Market to remain soft in Dec due to year-end slowdown
The UAE’s domestic processed HMS prices remained steady w-o-w at AED 1,122/t ($305/t) as of 3 December 2025. Market activity was subdued, and prices held steady due to the domestic shutdown during the UAE National Day holiday.
Even this week, due to limited working days, HMS 80:20 processed prices continued to hover at their lowest level since assessments began in October 2023.
Shredded scrap was workable at AED 1,150-1,170/t ($313-319/t), while PNS hovered at AED 1,140-1,150/t ($310-314/t). The market remained slightly weak, affected by reduced activity and lower participation.
Local scrap prices remained mixed from different yards:
- HMS (unprocessed): AED 1,030-1,070/t ($280-291/t)
- HMS (processed): AED 1,100-1,130/t ($299-308/t)
- Shredded: AED 1,160-1,180/t ($316-321/t)
- Fabrication scrap: AED 1,080-1,100/t ($294-299/t)
- End-cut: AED 1,175-1,190/t ($320-324/t)
- LMS: AED 850-950/t ($231-259/t)
- PNS: AED 1,120-1,150/t ($305-313/t)
Market participants indicated that in the export segment, UAE shredded scrap was offered at $360-362/t CFR Qasim, while HMS 80:20 was quoted at $338-340/t CFR. However, no deals were concluded, as weak buying interest in major destinations such as Pakistan and Bangladesh kept trading activity muted.
A couple of deals from the Middle East region were heard for HMS at $334-345/t levels, CFR West Coast India.
Saudi Arabia’s Hadeed announces Dec’25 price increase for rebars, wire rods
Hadeed has announced a price revision effective from December, raising rebar prices by SAR 40/t ($11/t, 2%) to SAR 2,120/t ($565/t). The company has also increased wire rod prices by SAR 25/t ($6/t), setting the new delivered coil price within the Kingdom at SAR 2,270/t ($605/t). These adjustments reflect prevailing cost and market conditions heading into the month.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s billet market has firmed as mills begin year-end restocking, increasing inquiries and boosting pricing discussions. Chinese suppliers offered billets at around $470/t CFR, slightly above recent deals at $450-460/t CFR.
Locally, billet prices stood at SAR 1,800-1,820/t exw ($480-485/t), up SAR 10-15/t ($3-4/t). Improved finished steel sentiment has also lifted scrap prices by SAR 15-20/t ($4-5/t), with Jeddah and Riyadh assessed at SAR 1,400-1,410/t ($373-376/t).
Outlook
The UAE market is expected to remain range-bound in the near term as activity gradually resumes following the National Day holiday. Scrap prices may stay under mild pressure, with weak export demand and cautious buying limiting any upward momentum. The slowdown in market activity during the year-end is likely to keep sentiment soft throughout December.
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