Pakistan: Need-based buying limits imported scrap trade amid weak demand

• • Low mill utilisation keep imported scrap buying limited to immediate requirements

• • Rising Middle East tensions lift offer prices, but cautious buyers hold back fresh bookings

Pakistan’s imported ferrous scrap market remained under pressure during the week ended 14 July as sluggish domestic steel demand, low mill operating rates, and declining regional scrap prices continued to weigh on buying sentiment.

BigMint assessed Europe-origin shredded scrap at $396/t CFR Port Qasim, inched up by around $1/t w-o-w.

Mills largely restricted purchases to immediate production requirements, while most buyers stayed on the sidelines amid expectations of further price corrections and uncertainty surrounding geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher and created uncertainty over freight costs and future supply, buyers remained cautious and preferred to wait for greater price clarity before returning to the market.

European/UK-origin shredded scrap offers increased to $395-400/t CFR, while buyers maintained workable levels at $388-392/t CFR. Transactions were reported at $390/t CFR early in the week, followed by UK-origin cargoes concluded at $392/t CFR, suggesting sellers gradually adjusted prices to stimulate limited buying.

However, market participants indicated that import offer levels strengthened toward the end of the week to around $398-400/t CFR for UK-origin shredded scrap, although buyers remained reluctant to book at these levels after several importers incurred losses on earlier cargoes purchased above $410/t CFR.

Trades during 8-13 July:

• • UK-origin shredded scrap: 2,000 t booked at $392/t CFR Qasim

• • UK-origin shredded scrap: 500 t booked at $391/t CFR Qasim

• • UK-origin shredded scrap: 1,000 t booked at $390/t CFR Qasim

• • EU-origin shredded scrap: 1,500 t booked at $390/t CFR Qasim

A Karachi-based steel mill source said, “Import offer levels are moving up. UK-origin shredded scrap is now around $398-400/t CFR compared with $390/t earlier. We have not booked any fresh cargoes after importing at $410-415/t about a month ago, as those purchases are currently loss-making. We also expect rebar prices to increase by around PKR 4,000/t ($14/t) in the coming days.”

A Pakistani trader said, “Importers are already under pressure due to falling prices. The rainy season, weak steel demand, and volatile market conditions have kept most buyers away from fresh bookings.”

Domestic steel market conditions remained challenging. Local scrap prices were heard at PKR 148,000-150,000/t ($533-540/t), while Bala billet traded at PKR 196,000-200,000/t ($705-720/t) and CC billet at PKR 208,000-210,000/t ($749-756/t).

Grade-60 rebar was assessed at PKR 238,000-240,000/t ($856-864/t), with market participants expecting prices to increase by around PKR 4,000/t ($14/t) in the coming days. Despite relatively stable finished steel prices, construction demand remained weak, limiting production activity. Steelmakers continued operating at only 30-35% capacity utilisation, while overall sales were estimated at around 40%, highlighting selective market activity.

Outlook:

Pakistan’s imported scrap market is expected to remain subdued in the coming week as mills continue need-based procurement amid weak finished steel demand and low capacity utilisation.

While higher oil prices and renewed Middle East tensions may offer some support to international scrap prices, buyers are likely to maintain a cautious approach until domestic steel demand improves and clearer price direction emerges.