Prices for recycled fiber-based containerboard in the GCC region were mostly up in May amid mixed market demand.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, has been closed for three months since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, driving up energy costs and putting Europe's aluminium sector under pressure.

The following price was affected:MB-STE-0909 Steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Saudi Arabia, riyals/tonne The price was published with a delay of 42 minutes on June 1. This price is part of the Fastmarkets steel package. For more information, or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price, or if you would like […]

The publication of two Fastmarkets steel scrap assessments for the Turkish market was delayed on Tuesday May 26 because of a procedural error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.

Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its Middle East PIX Packaging GCC indices via an open consultation process between April 17 and May 20 2026.

Fastmarkets has launched three weekly wheat freight rate assessments — Ukraine-Egypt, CVB-Egypt and Russia-Saudi Arabia — and has clarified that its existing Black Sea-North Africa freight assessment refers to the Russia-Egypt route and its Black Sea-Persian Gulf assessment refers to the Russia-Iran route. The Russia-Egypt assessment will also transition from Supramax to Handy-sized vessels. All changes are effective Wednesday May 20, 2026.

Fastmarkets is clarifying the publishing schedule for two Saudi Arabia steel price assessments following confirmation of the dates of the Eid al-Adha holiday.  The two price assessments affected are as follows: MB-STE-0909 – Steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Saudi Arabia, riyals/tonne MB-STE-0940 – Steel billet, import, cfr Saudi Arabia, $/tonne The domestic rebar price assessment […]

The following prices were affected: MB-STE-0093 Steel scrap auto bundle scrap domestic, delivered Turkey, lira/tonneMB-STE-0094 Steel scrap melting scrap from shipbreaking domestic, delivered Turkey, $/tonne These prices are part of the Fastmarkets scrap package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of these prices, or if you would like to provide price information […]

The publication of Fastmarkets’ Turkey flat steel price assessments on Friday May 8 was delayed because of a reporter error.

GCC recycled containerboard prices rose in April as Middle East disruptions lifted costs. On May 5, Fastmarkets’ PIX Testliner GCC and PIX Fluting GCC indices increased, while demand diverged between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.