STEEL SCRAP WRAP: Global prices fall on poor market sentiment

Scrap prices across the global markets moved down in the week ended Friday October 9, largely due to Turkey’s return to the market, although making purchases at lower prices than previously.

  • Turkish steel mills purchase cargoes at lower prices
  • US export market follows Turkish lead
  • Vietnam reports thin trading
  • Taiwanese scrap import market dips ahead of holiday
  • Indian material booked at lower prices.

Turkey
Turkish steel mills were largely out of the deep-sea markets for most of this week, until Thursday when two cargoes were booked at lower prices than in the most-recent previous deals.

This was followed by another cargo traded against a lower price on Friday.

Market participants had been expecting the price downturn because Turkish steelmakers have been struggling to sell long steel products, due to limited demand.

Pricing history
steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), Northern Europe origin, cfr Turkey.
steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20), US origin, cfr Turkey.

United States
At the time of Fastmarket’s report on October 7, the United States’ ferrous scrap export market was still quiet, with new no cargo deals reported, while recyclers operating at the docks adjusted their buying prices further amid expectations of lower-priced sales.

The next day, however, Turkey returned to the markets and prices did fall, as expected.

Pricing history
steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20), export index, fob New York.
steel scrap shredded scrap, export index, fob New York.
steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20), export index, fob Los Angeles.

Vietnam
Prices for HMS material into Vietnam narrowed upward this week, despite thin activity with buyers taking a wait-and-see approach.

Pricing history
steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20), cfr Vietnam.

Taiwan
Prices in Taiwan moved downward this week on lower prices being agreed for cargoes ahead of a pause in trading for a national holiday.

Pricing history
steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), US material import, cfr main port Taiwan.

India
On the Indian scrap market, prices moved down following a flurry of trading.

Pricing history
steel scrap, shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India.

Fastmarkets’ flagship global steel event, Steel Success Strategies, is running as an online conference on October 26-28, 2020. Register today to hear directly from Fastmarkets’ pricing experts and analysts, as well from some of the most important chief executive officers in global steel.

What to read next
The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-STE-0421 Steel scrap shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India was delayed because of a peer reviewer error. The Fastmarkets pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets advises that, as of Monday May 11, certain monthly North American ferrous scrap markets are yet to settle.
Fastmarkets published its assessment of the MB-STE-0232 steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton on Monday May 11, 2026.
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' price assessments for steel hot-rolled coil export, fob Black Sea, CIS and steel cold-rolled coil export, fob Black Sea, CIS for Monday May 11 was delayed due to a reporter error. Fastmarkets pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets' publication of the MB-STE-0232 Steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton is delayed by late settlement as of Friday May 8.