India: BF-rebar prices drop by INR 400/t ($5/t) amid weak demand
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- IF-rebar prices range-bound w-o-w
- Raw material prices drop w-o-w
Trade-level blast furnace (BF) rebar prices fell w-o-w due to weak buying interest across markets, marking the tenth consecutive week of declining prices. Currently, rebar prices (12-32mm, Fe500D, and Fe550D) in the trade segment have decreased by INR 400/t ($5/t) to INR 49,900/t ($594/t) exy-Mumbai, excluding 18% GST.
In the projects segment, prices are currently ranging between INR 48,000-49,000/t ($572-584/t) FOR Mumbai. Market activity has been subdued due to the ongoing decline in prices and a disparity between bids and offers.
Factors weighing down prices
The monthly average price gap between BF-IF rebars stood at INR 5,000-5,500/t ($60-65/t) ex-Mumbai. IF-rebars enjoy 65-70% share of the market.
2. Raw material prices drop w-o-w: Prices of key steelmaking raw materials, iron ore and coking coal, dropped w-o-w. National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), India's largest merchant iron ore mining company, decreased list prices of iron ore calibrated lump ore (CLO) and fines today by INR 600/t($7/t) and INR 500/t ($6/t) with effect from 7 August 2024.
BigMint's weekly Odisha iron ore fines Fe62% index edged down by INR 50/t ($0.6/t) w-o-w to INR 4,450/t ($53/t) ex-mines as on 10 August 2024. Prices remained under pressure and miners offered discounts amid low buying interest and weak sentiments.
Australian premium hard coking coal (PHCC) prices declined by $7/t w-o-w to $223/t CNF Paradip.