Romania’s flat steel spot market has started to show signs of modest price increases this week, as traders are increasingly testing higher quotations despite continued weakness in demand.
The gradual disappearance of some of the more competitively priced offers has created more room for upward adjustments, while higher operating and transportation costs and uncertainty surrounding import quotas have also supported sellers’ pricing efforts. However, purchasing activity remains limited, and persistent liquidity difficulties continue to restrict buyers’ willingness to accept higher levels. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding Liberty Galati persists, with no significant new developments regarding the proposed sale reported this week. The process remains unresolved, with further progress still dependent on creditor approval, leaving the future of the plant unclear.
In the domestic spot market, HRS prices have increased to around €780-790/mt ex-warehouse, compared with €765-770/mt last week, while CRS quotations have moved up to approximately €890-900/mt ex-warehouse, versus €870-880/mt previously. Nevertheless, some traders remain open to discounts, particularly for larger orders and prompt cash payments, as demand remains insufficient to fully support the higher quotations.
On the import side, activity has remained limited this week, with no significant fresh bookings reported despite some upward adjustments in foreign suppliers’ quotations. The Ukrainian supplier has increased its HRS offers to around €800/mt CPT Romania, compared with €780-800/mt CPT last week, while CRS quotations have reached approximately €890/mt CPT, versus €870-890/mt CPT previously. The supplier continues to face limited material availability due to the ongoing war and related operational difficulties, keeping its offers relatively high compared with some alternative sources. Meanwhile, Turkish HRC offers have risen to approximately $630-645/mt FOB, compared with $620-630/mt FOB last week. With freight to Romania estimated at $25-30/mt, the latest quotations correspond to around $655-675/mt CFR Romania, versus $645-660/mt CFR previously. However, limited buying interest, together with uncertainty regarding import quota availability and CBAM-related costs, continues to make Romanian buyers cautious about fresh bookings.
