CIS producers have raised this week their export offer prices for hot and cold rolled coils by some $10-20/tonne on-week, but buyers aim to push the prices down, market participants tell Kallanish.

Russian mills have announced May-shipment offers for HRC at $495-500/t fob Black Sea and quote $580/t fob for CRC. While Ukraine-origin asking prices are pegged at around $500/t fob for HRC and $570-580/t fob for CRC, sources suggest.

"Ukrainians used to make lower offers than Russians, but they are now asking the same price levels," a trader comments. This is because Ukrainian producers are operating at reduced capacity and can ship limited quantities due to their raw material supply difficulties amid the railway blockades, explains the source.

Demand for CIS coils in export markets has not improved on-week, though. The offered price levels have therefore not been accepted. While sources don't expect bookings to be made this week, deals could occur $10-15/t below the current offer levels.

The interviewed sources anticipate some stabilisation of CIS-origin coil prices after the recent increases. Further hikes are not expected in the short term, mainly because of the current state of demand and raw material prices. One of the sources expects Chinese prices to go slightly down soon and this to influence coil prices globally.