Bangladesh: Scrap prices remain flat w-o-w as steel market sentiment remains weak, buying limited

- Mills focusing on need-based deals amid liquidity squeeze

- Prices likely to remain capped till projects restart after elections

Bangladesh’s imported scrap prices stayed flat, and activities remained slow in the week ending 3 December 2025, with buying largely on hold. Buyers remained cautious and continued seeking discounts, while election-related uncertainty kept activity limited to need-based purchases only. Delays from re-tendering, a prolonged foreign-exchange squeeze, disrupted raw material imports, higher sourcing and financing costs, and constrained access to fresh funds tightened market liquidity and pressured operating margins.

BigMint’s weekly assessments

- European-origin HMS (80:20) held at $341/t

- European-origin containerised shredded inched down by $3/t w-o-w to $361/t.

- Japanese-origin H2 bulk stayed unchanged at $341/t.

- US-origin HMS (80:20) bulk inched up $2/t w-o-w to $355/t.

Latest offers/bids:

- Hong Kong PNS: $360/t

- Hong Kong shredded: $350/t

- Australia HMS 80:20: $330/t

- Australia Shredded: $360/t

- Chile HMS 80:20 (40ft): $320/t

- Brazil HMS 80:20 : $335/t (bids $330/t)

- Philippines GI bundles: $295-300/t

- Bulk US HMS 80:20: $355-360/t (bids $345-350/t)

- Bulk Japan H2: $342-345/t (bids $335-338/t)

As per market insiders, several Bangladeshi mills have reportedly shut operations due to weak steel demand, tight liquidity, and election-related uncertainty.

Following the 2024 regime change, both public and private expansion projects have stalled. Contractors deserted government sites, and projects entered a slow re-tendering phase. Mill utilisation fell to just 35-40% of capacity, sharply curbing steel demand and limiting producers ability to recover overhead costs.

Domestic prices remain under pressure despite a slight uptick in scrap. Local scrap edged up by BDT 500-700/t ($4-6/t), now hovering at BDT 42,000-45,000/t ($344-368/t), while rebar is being quoted at BDT 73,000-79,000/t ($598-646/t) and billet at BDT 62,000-64,000/t ($507-523/t).

However, demand for finished steel remains sluggish, with minimal rebar movement reported in the local market. Mills are operating cautiously, waiting for clarity and possible demand recovery after the elections or heading into January.

Adding to longer-term supply pressure, two new Chinese-backed mills have entered the market with a combined capacity of around 2 mnt (tentatively), which could intensify competition once demand stabilises.

Outlook

Steel demand is expected to remain subdued until project execution normalises and liquidity improves. A gradual revival could emerge as re-tendered projects restart, but prices and margins are likely to stay under pressure in the near term.