The beginning of the seasonal winter slowdown in activity during the week ended Monday December 13 made Russian steelmakers revise downward their domestic prices for hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheet for deliveries in December and January, market sources have told Fastmarkets.
Material ordered at the end of November for December delivery was arriving in stockists’ yards now, and that created pressure on the volumes on offer in the secondary market. With slow activity in general amid the increased availability of HR sheet, secondary market prices have also come down.
Steel plate prices remained firm mainly due to a limited supply of material in gauges of more than 18mm.