Turkish imported scrap prices remained broadly stable this week as steel mills continued to purchase only limited volumes amid subdued finished steel demand and weak export activity. MESTEEL assessed HMS 1&2 (80:20) import prices at USD 365-370 per ton CFR, compared with USD 370 per ton CFR a week earlier.
The scrap market remained relatively quiet, with both buyers and suppliers adopting a wait-and-see approach. Turkish mills continued to focus on immediate production requirements rather than rebuilding inventories, as soft rebar demand and narrow steelmaking margins limited their appetite for additional raw material purchases.
Market insiders said weak domestic construction activity and slow export bookings continued to weigh on sentiment. Although mills were seeking lower purchase prices, suppliers showed limited willingness to make significant concessions as high freight costs and firm scrap collection costs continued to underpin export offers.
Most transactions remained sporadic during the week, with Turkish buyers increasingly favoring domestic and short-sea scrap where pricing was more competitive. However, deep-sea purchases remained necessary to cover upcoming production schedules, keeping benchmark prices largely rangebound.
Reflecting the subdued market conditions, MESTEEL assessed Turkish export rebar prices at USD 570-575 per ton FOB, while wire rod export prices were assessed at USD 585-590 per ton FOB, both down by USD 5 per ton from a week earlier.