Chinese, Russian suppliers clinch UAE HRC deals

Top-tier Chinese suppliers, after cutting prices by nearly $9/tonne from mid-February levels, have dominated the hot rolled coil (HRC) market in the United Arab Emirates over the past week, amid continued silence from the major Japanese mill, Kallanish notes.

Last week, two UAE-based pipe makers booked a combined 46,000–50,000 tonnes of HRC from a top-tier Chinese supplier for March shipment.

The larger parcel, totalling around 31,000t, was concluded at an effective price of $495/t, with base prices at $485–490/t. Meanwhile, another pipe maker sealed a deal with a Russian supplier at $470/t base for April loading for 35-40,000t lot. Two weeks previous, a Saudi buyer booked 30,000t Russian HRC at the same price - $470/t cfr Jeddah - for end-March shipment.

This week, the same Chinese supplier offered SAE 1006 re-rolling grade at $508/t for 2.0–2.49mm, down from $517/t previously. This enabled it to secure a large parcel from the region's largest re-roller averaging $501–503/t for 2–4mm material for March shipment, effectively filling its March order book.

Looking ahead, Chinese and Taiwanese suppliers are targeting price increases to $510–515/t for 2mm SAE 1006 for April shipment. The Japanese major has yet to disclose its pricing for end-March or April loading, with its April allocation expected to be tight due to technical constraints due to a maintenance shut down.

A 15,000t re-rolling grade enquiry remains pending in the market, with the Japanese mill reportedly targeting initial prices at around $510/t. It has been understood that buyers are targeting $500-502/t for April loading.  

Separately, 1.2mm SPHT-1 grade offers from a major Chinese supplier are heard at $545/t cfr (liner out) Dammam and $548/t cfr (lo) Jeddah for March loading.

All prices are on a CFR (liner out) basis to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Dammam (Saudi Arabia).

Source:Kallanish