CIS export prices for steel slab soared in the first half of February, supported by a reduced allocation of the material in the region as well as rising prices for finished flat steel products.
The lower availability of slabs was a result of maintenance work undertaken by Metinvest in Ukraine, and by a reduced allocation of slabs to third parties as a consequence.Meanwhile, given the positive market, some Russian suppliers preferred to hold back material to get the best price."We are in the market. We just don't have any firm slab...