Kazakhstan: rebar prices to move up in January-February

摘要

Domestic rebar prices rose by 6-13% in Kazakhstan in December. Import quotes increased less significantly, comparably to a price rise in Russia. EVRAZ had no other choice but to raise rebar prices to Kazakh traders because of a surge in global square billet quotes in December. Prices for semi-finished products increased by $120-130/t month-on-month to $575-580/t FOB at Russia's Far Eastern ports. Given the level of semis prices, billet shipments from EVRAZ ZSMK to EVRAZ Caspian Steel (ECS) for further re-rolling into rebar will be profitable if prices in Kazakhstan are no lower than $580-600/t (without VAT, СРТ Almaty).