GCC containerboard prices remained mostly stable in June, as trade disruptions, weak exports, and seasonal demand shifts shaped market conditions across Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Fastmarkets launched three world-first regional price indices in a major expansion to its Saudi Arabian ferrous scrap market coverage, on Tuesday July 7.

Fastmarkets has amended its pricing holiday calendar to show Monday June 29, 2026 as a non-publishing day for Black Sea grains and oilseeds prices.

Fastmarkets has amended the dates for publication for the following in its pricing holidays calendar to show Friday June 19 as a publishing day, which was previously marked as a non-publishing day.

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.