[SMM Steel] Shipping Bottlenecks and Geopolitical Risks Tighten Iranian Semi-Finished Steel Export Trade

Published: Sep 3, 2026 15:17

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[Iran] The Iranian semi-finished steel market has recently shown a distinct divergence between domestic and export sectors. In the billet segment, export trading remained subdued due to shipping constraints, heightened maritime risks, and cooling regional demand, with export offers softening to 410–415 USD/tonne FOB and concluded transactions limited mostly to 10,000–15,000-tonne barge consignments or small regional lots; by contrast, the domestic market performed strongly, buoyed by the sharp depreciation of the local currency and summer power shortages. In the slab segment, export quotes edged down slightly to 420 USD/tonne FOB; however, severe geopolitical risks, strict compliance scrutiny by shipowners, and the necessity to reroute shipments via Oman or the UAE significantly inflated logistical costs and fulfillment uncertainty, sending overseas buying interest to freezing point and leaving the market devoid of major deals.

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