Romanian rebar prices are rising due to CBAM, demand is showing signs of recovery
The Romanian long products market saw another round of price increases this week, mainly due to clearer expectations regarding CBAM-related costs and tougher price signals from other EU suppliers ahead of the extended Christmas holidays. Against the background of rising prices for both raw materials and spot markets, buyers who want to replenish stocks and insure against possible price increases after the New Year returned to the market, which led to a slight increase in demand compared to recent weeks. However, market sources stress that this recovery remains fragile. Much of the buying activity is driven by precautionary measures rather than demand, as buyers seek to provide themselves with materials before further price increases, rather than in response to an increase in basic consumption. With the end-of-year holidays approaching and continued financial difficulties, trading activity is expected to slow down again, calling into question the sustainability of the latest price increase.
As a result, domestic rebar prices continued to rise. The only producer in the country increased its offers to 570-575 euros per ton from the factory, compared with 560-565 euros per ton previously. In the retail market, traders also raised their quotes to 580-605 euros per ton from the warehouse, compared with 570-590 euros per ton from the warehouse last week.
In the wire rod segment, on the contrary, there is a more restrained response. Although demand remains noticeably weaker than in the rebar market, prices have nevertheless increased in line with broader market trends. Traders report that the current offers are 575-585 euros per ton from the warehouse, compared with 560-570 euros per ton from the warehouse a week earlier.
As for imports, the interest of buyers increased slightly, especially in relation to the nearest suppliers, while prices continued to rise under pressure from CBAM, especially for raw materials of European origin. According to sources, the Bulgarian supplier increased the supply of fittings by 10 euros per ton to 610-620 euros per ton excluding VAT, while Moldovan suppliers are still absent from the market and no offers are reported. Among non-EU suppliers, Egyptian factories increased their offers for rebar to 490-495 euros per ton, and for wire rod to 495-500 euros per ton, compared with 485-490 euros per ton and 490-495 euros per ton, respectively. Turkish suppliers, on the contrary, continue to soften their offers, now they offer 490-505 euros per ton CFR compared to 495-515 euros per ton CFR last week, based on the exchange rate of 1 euro = 1.17 dollars and estimated transportation costs of 15-20 euros per ton.
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