South Asias imported scrap markets remain muted; Turkish prices firm

• • Turkiye prices held steady supported by firm seller resistance

• • Pakistan and Bangladesh markets stayed quiet with thin trading

South Asia’s imported scrap markets remained largely subdued, with cautious buying across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh amid weak steel demand and holiday disruptions. Prices stayed mostly stable, while limited supply and firm seller sentiment offered support despite thin trading activity.

India: Imported scrap demand in India remained subdued, with buyers showing limited interest in fresh bookings amid weak steel demand and margin pressure. UK-origin HMS failed to attract buyers as the impurity levels were reported to be higher than contractual commitments, discouraging mills from proceeding despite availability.

Supplier activity also thinned due to Christmas and year-end holidays, further reducing trade momentum. Indicative prices were heard at CFR Nhava Sheva/Chennai levels of $34-350/t for EU-origin shredded and $316-320/t for HMS 80:20, while Australian-origin shredded was assessed at $336-342/t, HMS 90:10 at $325-330/t, HMS 80:20 at $315-320/t, and PNS at $330-340/t, largely unchanged amid muted market participation.

Pakistan: Pakistans imported scrap market remained subdued, with limited buying interest despite a slight uptick in offers. Europe/UK-origin shredded scrap was offered at $354-359/t CFR Qasim but no sound from buyer, while local buyers stayed largely silent due to year-end slowdowns, though a few small bookings were reported.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s imported scrap market stayed quiet on a day-on-day basis, with no meaningful change in activity levels. Hong Kong-origin oversized PNS was heard at $363/t CFR, Hong Kong shredded at $353/t CFR, and Australian shredded at $350/t CFR, reflecting steady price indications rather than active trading.

Turkiye: Deep-sea imported scrap prices stable d-o-d after a US-origin deal was concluded, reflecting firm seller sentiment amid seasonal supply tightness. Limited availability from major exporters supported higher price levels, allowing sellers to successfully defend offers close to $370/t CFR.

However, buying interest remained cautious as weak downstream steel demand continued to pressure mill margins. Despite this, US suppliers resisted offers below $370/t CFR, limiting downside movement and keeping prices supported even as buyers showed reluctance to chase higher levels.