Asia steel scrap prices to continue nosedive short term - sources
Prices for steel scrap across Asian markets have plummeted in recent days due to weak sentiment and buyers abstaining from purchases, market participants told Fastmarkets on Friday January 22.
Market expectations of further price drops ahead of the Chinese New Year - observed in a week-long holiday from February 11 - led to buy-side bearishness across Asian markets, Fastmarkets heard.
This prompted sellers in the steel billet market, cfr Southeast Asia, to attempt offering more cargoes out to sell stock and cash in before prices fall further, but buyers have been cautious to make any bookings in a sharply dropping market.