Turkey represented 44pc of EU HRC import market in Aug
Turkey provided 44pc of the EU's wide strip imports in August, its largest share on record.
Hot-rolled coil (HRC) shipments from Turkey to the EU hit 276,497t in August, out of a total 625,741t, according to EU statistics body Eurostat. Total imports rose 17.8pc on year.
China — for all the comments about its large exports and their impact on the global market — did not reach this share of the EU import market at any point in 2015, when it exported a record 112.4mn t, or in 2016. Chinese HRC prices touched a low of almost $250/t fob in November 2015, way below current Turkish levels. The Argus fob Turkey HRC assessment was $540/t fob on 12 October, down $15/t on the week.
The growth in Turkey's share of the import market comes at a time when the European Commission is closely monitoring its shipments. The country's economic issues this year, the depreciation of the lira and the imposition of a 50pc tariff by the US under its Section 232 ruling have also drawn more attention to Turkey.
And Turkish shipments to the EU could increase in September, given the aggressive offers being made. Quotations into the Iberian peninsula were around €490/t cif today, while Italian buyers were trying to push towards €470/t cif, compared with domestic offers of around €510/t ex-works.
Turkish cold-reduced coil has been offered into northern Europe at €580/t cfr, according to German buyers, substantially below mills' target prices.
These competitive offers and slowing demand from certain sectors have dampened sentiment in the European coil market. In the summer, most buy and sell-side sources expected prices to increase in the fourth quarter because of import barriers and mill consolidation. But most now seem reluctant to go long ahead of a perceived softening in price, and are withholding purchases and trying to manage stock levels through the fourth quarter.
Related news posts
Liberty looks to sell or recapitalise EU rolling lines
Liberty looks to sell or recapitalise EU rolling lines
London, 15 May (Argus) — Beleaguered steelmaker Liberty Steel is looking to recapitalise or divest its main European rolling lines, the company said today. The lines are Liege in Belgium, Dudelange in Luxembourg and Piombino in Italy, and have a capacity of over 2.5mn t, the company said. Liege and Dudelange galvanise hot-rolled coil (HRC) and produce tinplate and blackplate, Magona produces prepaint and hot-dipped galvanised (HDG) products. "The primary objective is to review options for strategic partnerships through long-term HRC feedstock supply contracts, but will also consider and [sic] co-investment and divestment options," Liberty said. Negotiations over at least one of the assets have been ongoing for a number of months, but have potentially stalled at the contract signing stage, sources suggested this week. The company refused to comment on "speculation". As with Liberty's other EU and UK assets, the lines have not been producing anywhere near full capacity, if at all, for a number of years. They have not been supplied with feedstock from the company's own mills. Galati in Romania is operating, but nowhere near capacity, while Ostrava is rolling limited quantities of imported slab with the aid of third-party financing. As far back as June 2021, Belgium's Walloon government discussed loaning Liberty Steel an undisclosed fee to continue operating Liege-Dudelange, subject to the organisation of a sales procedure being started. Walloon's investment firm Sogepa said the loan would be subject to "strict conditions", including the organisation of a sale, but the loan was not finalised in the end. That same month, Liberty merged the downstream assets of Dudelange, Liege and Piombino into its Galati organisation. At the time the company said this would see Galati become the primary supplier of HRC to the rolling lines. The difficult market environment in Europe is compounding the difficulties faced by Liberty. Last week it mothballed its merchant bar mill in Scunthorpe, UK , as first reported by Argus . In reality, the mill has not produced anything for years. At Liberty's Speciality Steel business in south Yorkshire, UK, around 7,000t has been produced this year, out of nameplate capacity of 1.2mn t/yr. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
VW idles Brazil auto plants as floods hit parts supply
VW idles Brazil auto plants as floods hit parts supply
Sao Paulo, 14 May (Argus) — Persistent heavy rains in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul led Volkswagen to announce collective vacation for workers in three of its local plants as the automaker struggles with a lack of parts made in the flood-hit state. The Anchieta, Taubate and Sao Carlos facilities, in southeastern Sao Paulo state, will have collective vacation starting 20 May as floods forced auto part suppliers to stop production. "Due to the heavy rains affecting the state and people of Rio Grande do Sul, some Volkswagen do Brasil parts suppliers, with factories installed in the state, are unable to produce at this time," the company said on Tuesday. Volkswagen declined to comment on which auto parts suppliers were affected by the floods. Volkswagen's Sao Jose dos Pinhais facility, in Rio Grande do Sul, will remain operating, the company said. Heavy rains that began flooding Rio Grande do Sul in late April persisted over the weekend , continuing to wreak havoc in the state. Rains reached an accumulated 123mm (4.8in) on 10-12 May in the state capital Porto Alegre, according to Brazil's national meteorological institute Inmet. Some areas experienced around 80mm of rain on 12 May alone, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Showers lessened but continued on 13 May, reaching 35mm in some parts of the state. The extreme weather has left 148 dead and 124 missing, according to the civil defense. Over 538,000 people are displaced. By Carolina Pulice Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Anglo American to exit from coal, Ni, platinum: Update
Anglo American to exit from coal, Ni, platinum: Update
Adds details of Anglo American's latest plan to demerge or sell its assets Singapore, 14 May (Argus) — UK-South African mining firm Anglo American has announced plans to exit its coal, platinum, nickel and diamond businesses, shortly after rejecting Australian resources firm BHP's latest takeover bid. Anglo American wants to sell its coking coal business in Australia, which includes the 6.5mn t/yr Moranbah and 5mn t/yr Grosvenor mines in Queensland. The firm also plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum, as well as sell or demerge its De Beers diamond business, it said on 14 May. Anglo American will also slow investment in its Woodsmith polyhalite fertilizer project in the UK, where it was previously targeting first commercial output in 2027 . It is also exploring options for care and maintenance as well as divestment of its nickel assets in Brazil. The move to "accelerate the delivery of consistently stronger shareholder returns" with the latest plan comes on the back of a takeover bid by BHP. Anglo American turned down a revised £34bn ($42.7bn) takeover proposal from BHP on 13 May because it "continues to significantly undervalue Anglo American and its future prospects". It earlier rejected BHP's £31bn all-share offer for the same reason. "The latest proposal from BHP again fails to recognise the value inherent in Anglo American," Anglo American chairman Stuart Chambers said on 13 May. Anglo American shareholders are well positioned to benefit from increasing demand from "future-enabling products", Chambers added. Copper was the second-highest contributor to Anglo American's earnings last year, accounting for 32pc of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, after iron ore. BHP's latest offer represents a total value of around £27.53 per Anglo American ordinary share, including £4.86 in Anglo Platinum shares and £3.40 in Kumba shares, BHP said on 13 May. The takeover proposal came with a requirement for Anglo American to complete two separate demergers of its entire shareholdings in Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore — its assets in South Africa — to Anglo American shareholders. "This leaves Anglo American, its shareholders and stakeholders disproportionately at risk from the substantial uncertainty and execution risk created by the proposed inter-conditional execution of two demergers and a takeover," Anglo American said. By Reena Nathan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Anglo American rejects BHP’s revised takeover proposal
Anglo American rejects BHP’s revised takeover proposal
Singapore, 14 May (Argus) — UK-South African mining firm Anglo American has rejected a revised £34bn ($42.7bn) takeover proposal from Australian resources firm BHP because it "continues to significantly undervalue Anglo American and its future prospects". Anglo American earlier rejected BHP's £31bn all-share offer for the same reason. "The latest proposal from BHP again fails to recognise the value inherent in Anglo American," Anglo American chairman Stuart Chambers said on 13 May. Anglo American shareholders are well positioned to benefit from increasing demand from "future-enabling products", Chambers added. Copper was the second-highest contributor to Anglo American last year, accounting for 32pc of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. BHP's latest offer represents a total value of around £27.53 per Anglo American ordinary share, including £4.86 in Anglo Platinum shares and £3.40 in Kumba shares, BHP said on 13 May. The takeover proposal came with a requirement for Anglo American to complete two separate demergers of its entire shareholdings in Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore — its assets in South Africa — to Anglo American shareholders. "This leaves Anglo American, its shareholders and stakeholders disproportionately at risk from the substantial uncertainty and execution risk created by the proposed inter-conditional execution of two demergers and a takeover," Anglo American said. By Reena Nathan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more