Domestic offers of sections have stayed unchanged in January. However,urged by an abrupt increase in export markets, some producers announcedthey planned to raise domestic prices in the second half of January.Strong world markets for steel products contributed to a further price rise:sections have grown in price by $75/t to $710-720/t FOB Black Sea. As a result,export prices were $15-30/t above domestic ones in mid-January (EXW comparisonbasis). Some plants announced an UAH 700-800/t hike for home-made sectionsto be delivered in the second half of January, the rest planning significantincreases for February. An upward price trend will persist in export markets(up $35-45/t in February-March) on higher raw material quotations, coal andiron ore particularly. The situation in export markets will be the main factorinfluencing domestic price forming during the period.
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