Flat products prices move sideways while long products prices see further falls

摘要

Weak long products export markets and intense competition from Turkish producers have resulted in further falls in CIS long products prices. Yet finished flat products prices remained unchanged, while slab prices leaped by another $15/t m/m on tighter supply from Russia. Flat products prices are likely to be supported by stronger export markets in March, helping CIS producers lift prices in the domestic market, while some improvement may also materialise in long products demand next month as traders start building up stocks.