International scrap prices have shown uncanny firming up in the last fortnight. The main drivers for this turnaround has been active buying by China and Turkey as stocks with the manufacturers have gradually depleted over the last couple of months.
In China the current spike in domestic steel prices after devastating decline August and September, whereas in Turkey stocks have depleted over the last couple of months as mills were absent from the market post Ramadan due lack of demand for finished product in Middle East.
The international prices of scrap have improved by USD 40 per tonne during the last fortnight from USD 260 per tonne to 300 per tonne on CNF basis. In few cases US scrap exports have touched levels of USD 315 per tonne CNF Main Chinese port in the second week of November. The Turkish mills are reported to be actively buying at USD 295 per tonne to USD 300 per tonne levels
India being a major destination for scrap with more than 2 million tonne imports per annum, cannot remain unscathed by this price movements. It is learnt that Indian importers have been getting at offers at USD 300 per tonne plus levels now.
Indian IF based steelmakers are primarily dependent on imported scrap have resisted price increase with minimal buying as the downstream market is in abject condition. Nonetheless some hike has seeped in domestic market has shown below during the last week.
| Location | Change |
| Chennai | 0 |
| Mumbai | 200 |
| Kolkata | 277 |
| Mandi | 185 |
Change is on November 17th as compared to November 10th 2009
Change is in INR per tonne
This resistance is bound to crumble within the next fortnight as small steel mills will be compelled to maintain production to cover cost or vanquish. As a result the bottom of long product prices seems imminent if not revival. It is already reported that some buying has commenced at these levels which likely to expand in the coming weeks.
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