[SMM Acero]

[Turkey] Over the past week, with Black Sea shipping nearly at a standstill and a Ukrainian steel mill suffering attack damage, several Turkish steelmakers have pivoted back to the Asian market for billet procurement. Turkey's billet import assessment has stabilized at 495–500 USD/tonne CFR. In terms of specific transactions, a mill in Izmir purchased 50,000 tonnes of imported billet from a trader at 495–500 USD/tonne CFR; prior to this, a section steel producer in the same region had already booked approximately 50,000 tonnes of Chinese billet. Notably, frequent attacks on Black Sea shipping routes have effectively paralyzed the dispatch of regional materials to Turkey. This disruption, compounded by the damage to a Ukrainian steel plant and elevated freight rates of around 45 USD/tonne from Russia to Turkey, has driven Turkish buyers' overall restocking demand firmly toward Asia.

[India] Indian billet export indications firmed to 460USD/tonne FOB India amid strengthening market sentiment. US/EU-origin shredded scrap was indicated at 420–422USD/tonne CFR Port Qasim, while UAE-origin HMS stood at 413–415USD/tonne CFR Port Qasim and HMS for India near 360USD/tonne CFR India. However, all scrap levels in India remained indicative, with no confirmed trading. The firmer tone extended to domestic billet, with prices rising across 16 of 19 assessed locations and ranging from 406–458USD/tonne (38,800–43,800INR/tonne). Mumbai recorded the strongest increase, rising 12USD/tonne (1,100INR/tonne) to 448USD/tonne (42,800INR/tonne), while billet stood at 444USD/tonne (42,400INR/tonne) in Mandi Gobindgarh, 414USD/tonne (39,600INR/tonne) in Raipur, 458USD/tonne (43,800INR/tonne) in Chennai and 422 USD/tonne (40,300INR/tonne) in Durgapur. Domestic HRC prices remained unchanged.

[India] India’s domestic steel market showed a modest improvement with small increases in ferrous scrap, billet and rebar prices. Buying remained selective amid moderate demand, while buyers continued to adopt a wait-and-watch approach. Overall, market sentiment was stable to slightly positive, supported by higher scrap and billet prices. In northern Mandi Gobindgarh, HMS 1&2 (80:20) edged up by 5.22USD/tonne to 360USD/tonne delivered Mandi (34,500INR/tonne). Billet prices increased by 4.18USD/tonne to 449USD/tonne delivered Mandi (43,000INR/tonne). Raipur billet up by 2.09USD/tonne to 414USD/tonne EXW Raipur (39,600INR/tonne). Meanwhile, Mumbai Rebar prices moved up by 1.04USD/tonne to 496USD/tonne EXW Mumbai (47,500INR/tonne). Pellet-based Sponge Iron (PDRI) unchanged at 283USD/tonne EXW Raipur (27,100INR/tonne).