The Romanian long steel spot market has moved slightly lower this week, with traders gradually reducing prices after the sharp increases recorded in recent weeks.
Market participants indicate that overall demand remains subdued, despite ongoing activity from selected infrastructure and construction projects, while most buyers continue to limit purchases to immediate requirements. As a result, the higher price levels reached previously have become increasingly difficult to sustain, prompting retailers to adopt a more competitive pricing approach in an effort to stimulate sales. Meanwhile, sentiment in the import market remains cautious, with safeguard quota restrictions and CBAM-related uncertainties continuing to discourage buying interest. On the other hand, Romania’s sole domestic rebar producer, Beltrame Group, has maintained its offer levels despite the softer market conditions, although sources report limited sales activity and continued shortages of some commonly requested rebar dimensions.
Consequently, rebar spot prices in Romania have declined from €650-665/mt ex-warehouse last week to €635-640/mt ex-warehouse, while wire rod prices have softened from €690-700/mt to €685-690/mt ex-warehouse.
On the production side, Beltrame Group is still indicating rebar prices at around €640-650/mt ex-works.
Meanwhile, in the import segment, Romanian buyers remain largely quiet, with no significant non-EU transactions reported recently as buyers continue to act cautiously amid CBAM- and quota-related uncertainties, as well as weak demand. However, some buying activity was heard last week, with Romanian buyers sourcing material from nearby EU suppliers, particularly Bulgaria, benefiting from shorter lead times and easier procurement procedures. Meanwhile, Italian rebar offers have been heard at around €650-665/mt CFR. On the other hand, Greek suppliers have offered rebar at €655-665/mt CFR and wire rod at €665-675/mt CFR. Previously, their offers were reported at around €670-680/mt CFR for rebar and €660-670/mt CFR for wire rod. Meanwhile, on the non-EU side, offers from Egyptian suppliers have been heard at €545-550/mt CFR for rebar and €560-565/mt CFR for wire rod, down from €550-560/mt CFR for rebar and €560-570/mt CFR for wire rod last week. Turkish suppliers have, meanwhile, raised their rebar offers slightly to €535-545/mt CFR Romania, compared to €530-545/mt CFR heard last week, based on an exchange rate of €1 = $1.16 and estimated freight costs of €25-30/mt.
