The price gap pf Iran Export Billet with Black Sea Index CIS has fallen to USD 5 from its initial of USD 60 since February and the large steelmaking companies have resigned from sales at low prices.
The Slab index difference between Iran and Southeast Asia has dropped to USD45 from the initial price of USD 105 at the beginning of the year, and this is while USD 35 of it is for the ocean freight and there is only a USD 10 margin.
The two major Iranian billet producers – Khouzestan Steel and Esfahan Steel – sold significant billet tonnages to Asia, Southeast Asia as well as domestically in the previous weeks so are unwilling to accept less than USD 350 per MT FOB.
