SE Asia: Billet import market remains silent on less trade activities
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- Market inactive amid Lunar New Year holidays
- Low buying interest weakens trade volumes
The Southeast Asian imported billet market remained inactive this week, with no offers due to ongoing the Lunar New Year holidays and a subdued sentiment in the long sector. Globally, there has been subdued buying interest, leading to reduced offers and billet buyers adopting a wait-and-watch approach.
According to BigMint's bi-weekly assessment, billet import prices remained stable w-o-w at $545/tonne (t) CFR Manila.
Chinese billet prices remained unchanged w-o-w at RMB 3,550/t ($499/t) on 9 February. Stability in finished steel prices and weak market sentiment during the Lunar New Year holidays have contributed to unchanged billet prices. However, Chinese SHFE rebar futures increased by RMB 29/t ($4/t) w-o-w to RMB 3,854/t ($541/t) today.
Meanwhile, imported scrap prices in Turkiye have marginally decreased this week. According to BigMint, HMS 1&2 (80:20) prices from the US stood at $419/t CFR, marking a slight decrease of $3/t w-o-w.
Market highlights:
- Thailand's imported billet offers remain range-bound: Imported billet offers from the ASEAN region into Thailand remained range-bound at $545-550/t CFR Thailand.
- Indonesian billets offers have remained range-bound w-o-w at $525-530/t FOB.