CIS export slab prices jumped by $15-20 per tonne over the week ended Monday July 9 with mills increasing their offers on August-rolling material, following the positive trend in the finished flat steel segment in recent weeks.
Reduced global availability of slabs was another reason for the higher offer prices. This was itself a result of scheduled maintenance outages at some CIS mills in the third quarter of 2018, as well as lower export volumes from Iran amid importers' reluctance to buy material from that region because of the threat of renewed US trading sanctions.Metal Bulletin's CIS export slab price assessment was $525-535 per tonne fob Black Sea on July 9, against...