- Turkiye: Weak rebar demand drags scrap market
- UAE: Processed scrap prices decline amid export restrictions
Global ferrous scrap markets remained under pressure in the week ended 4 July as weak steel demand, cautious mill buying and poor margins continued to weigh on sentiment. While Japan’s export prices strengthened, subdued import activity across South Asia and softer Turkish prices kept the broader market bearish.
Turkiye: Deep-sea imported scrap prices remained under pressure throughout the week as weak rebar demand, poor mill margins and limited buying interest kept Turkish mills pushing for lower import prices, while reduced EU HRC import quotas further weighed on sentiment.
Trading activity remained limited, with Europe-origin HMS 80:20 workable at $365-368/t CFR and US-origin HMS 80:20 at $375-378/t CFR. Deals from the Baltic, Finland, the UK and the Netherlands reflected continued downward pressure on deep-sea scrap prices.
Ukraine: Ferrous scrap recyclers urged the government to replace the zero-quota export ban with a 200,000 t annual EU export quota, arguing that current restrictions are hurting the domestic recycling sector.
India: Imported ferrous scrap market remained subdued throughout the week, with poor import economics and competitive domestic scrap continuing to limit buying, while higher July freight rates further weighed on fresh bookings.
UK-origin HMS 80:20 was heard at $325-335/t CFR, while UK-origin shredded scrap was offered at $385-390/t CFR. US-origin HMS 80:20 was assessed at $335-340/t CFR, with Australia-origin HMS at $330/t CFR Chennai and shredded at $360/t CFR Chennai. Buyers continued to seek prices $15-20/t below prevailing shredded scrap offers. Market participants expect mills to continue need-based procurement in the near term.
In the last seven days, India imported around 4,500-5,000 t of ferrous scrap, including 2,500-3,000 t of HMS grades (HMS 80:20 and HMS 60:40) and 2,500-3,000 t of turning & boring scrap. The cargoes were sourced from the UK, Costa Rica, Israel and the US, with deliveries to Mundra, Chennai and Nhava Sheva.
Freight to India: Container freight rates showed mixed trends during the week. Melbourne-Chennai eased to around $1,350-1,400/FCL as EBS remained suspended, while London Gateway-Chennai increased to $1,500-1,550/FCL due to limited sailing capacity. Freight to JNPT also rose to around $1,350-1,400/FCL amid port congestion and tight vessel availability.
Pakistan: Imported shredded scrap market remained subdued throughout the week, with buying restricted to immediate requirements as weak steel demand and competitive local scrap kept buyers on the sidelines following the federal budget. Workable levels for UK/EU-origin shredded scrap softened to around $395/t CFR Qasim against offers of $400/t CFR, with earlier deals at $401-402/t CFR no longer considered representative. Meanwhile, Malaysia-origin CR busheling was offered at $430/t CFR Qasim, while HMS 80:20 and LMS were heard at $390/t CFR and $360/t CFR, respectively.
Bangladesh: Imported ferrous scrap market remained under pressure throughout the week, with buying enquiries from major mills staying limited amid weak steel demand and falling global scrap prices. Buyers maintained a wait-and-watch approach, targeting lower workable levels while domestic ship scrap remained cost competitive. Brazil-origin HMS 80:20 was offered at $365-370/t CFR, UK-origin HMS at $365-375/t CFR against bids at $365/t CFR, and Latin America-origin HMS 1 at $385/t CFR against bids at $370/t CFR, reflecting the persistent wide bid-offer gap.
Japan: H2 ferrous scrap export prices increased by JPY 1,600/t w-o-w to JPY 53,000/t in the week ended 4 July, supported by a weaker yen to 4 decade low, although stable domestic collection prices and limited scrap availability continued to support FOB offer levels. Tokyo Steel cut its HMS 2 scrap purchase price at the Nagoya Satellite yard by JPY 500/t ($3/t) to JPY 53,500/t ($331/t), effective 7 July, while keeping buying prices unchanged at its other plants.
Additional: JFE Steel commercialised its AI-based scrap inspection system, “Resolas,” and plans to expand the technology across its steelworks and recycling network.
UAE: Processed ferrous scrap prices declined by AED 35/t w-o-w to AED 1,000/t ($272/t) DAP Abu Dhabi, as the temporary export ban and expectations of further price corrections kept mills in a wait-and-watch mode. Inquiries were heard at AED 900-950/t DAP, while fresh bookings remained limited.
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