South Asia: Scrap markets show mixed trends amid selective buying, offers remain firm
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- Higher freight and costs support global scrap prices
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- Limited US bulk scrap availability outside Turkiye
Imported scrap markets across South Asia and Turkiye showed mixed sentiment, with India improving on firmer prices, Pakistan remaining cautious, Bangladesh largely stable, and Turkiye’s deep-sea scrap prices rangebound amid weak steel demand despite higher cost pressures.
India: Imported scrap demand in India improved as overseas prices firmed, supporting a more positive market sentiment. Recent deals included HMS 60:40 from Costa Rica at $320/t CFR, Canadian shredded at $360/t CFR west coast India, and Brazilian HMS with 2-3% impurities sold near $335/t CFR. Meanwhile, EU-origin shredded offers have moved above $365/t, with HMS around $340/t. However, weak scrap collection in Europe and higher freight costs are keeping offers elevated, making it difficult for Indian buyers to absorb higher price levels.
Pakistan: The imported scrap market in Pakistan remained cautious, with buyers adopting a wait-and-watch approach amid mixed price signals. UK and EU-origin shredded scrap was workable in the range of $370-385/t. UAE-origin HMS 80:20 was indicated at $360-365/t, while locally sourced shredded scrap was heard around $383/t. UAE exports remained largely shut due to pending VAT confirmation.
Pakistani buyers were bidding around $375/t for EU-origin shredded scrap, against offers of $378-380/t CFR Qasim. A deal for UAE-origin HMS 80:20 was reported at $355/t CFR Qasim. In the domestic market, local bala scrap traded at PKR 182,000-183,000/t. Import offers from the Middle East were heard at $390/t for shredded, $365/t for HMS, and around $370/t for sheared HMS CFR Port Qasim, with rates unchanged.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s scrap imports remained largely stable, with limited changes observed across key origins. Containerised shredded scrap from Australia and New Zealand was indicated at around $365-370/t, against bids near $360/t, while HMS 80:20 was offered at $350-355/t with bids at $340-342/t. Brazilian HMS with 2-3% impurities was considered workable at $340-345/t. Japanese H2 and HS prices into Chattogram were mostly unchanged w-o-w, with H2 assessed at $345-346/t and HS at $370-375/t, while bids stood lower. Bulk scrap offers from the US were scarce, with the last indication around $370/t, as most cargoes are currently directed toward Turkiye.
Turkiye: Deep-sea import scrap prices into Turkiye remained largely stable, with the recent upcycle seen as having peaked. HMS 80:20 traded in a narrow range around $375-377/t CFR, despite US sellers pushing targets toward $380/t on weather-related supply constraints. Turkish mills resisted higher levels due to weak downstream rebar demand, cold weather, and limited ability to pass on higher costs. Supportive factors included a stronger euro and rising coking coal prices, but overall sentiment stayed cautious, keeping prices rangebound.
