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The Egyptian steel market remained sluggish this week, with trading activity subdued due to raw material shortages and macroeconomic pressures. HX160YD+ZM steel strip ,Insufficient slab supplies continued to constrain production at re-rolling mills and small-to-medium-sized steel plants; compounded by high energy costs and a weak trading environment, the industry faced significant operational strain. Meanwhile, safeguard measures on imported slabs remained in effect—impacting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reliant on imported raw materials particularly hard—and inventory levels have continued to decline recently.
Supply-side trends diverged significantly. On one hand, production at integrated steel mills remained largely stable; on the other, re-rolling mills—struggling to absorb tariff costs—faced production halts or operated at low capacity, leading to a marked drop in overall output. HX160YD+ZM steel strip ,Market consensus suggests that the current policy environment safeguards the operations of large steel mills to some extent but squeezes small and medium-sized enterprises.
Regarding prices, local slab offers started at a low of approximately 33,500 EGP/tonne (approx. $637/tonne). The import market remained relatively stable but showed a slight upward trend; as of April 23, the import price for steel billets at major Egyptian ports stood at $517–$525/tonne CFR, a slight increase from the previous week's $510–$520/tonne. Chinese material was largely offered on an FOB basis, with freight costs around $50/tonne, while offers for Russian material saw a slight increase, with freight costs to Damietta Port ranging from $40 to $42/tonne.
On the demand side, downstream procurement of rebar remains cautious. Although prices had previously risen due to fluctuations in costs and exchange rates, they have stabilized this week. Major steelmakers such as Ezz Steel and Beshay Steel are quoting up to approximately 39,500 EGP/tonne, while quotes from small and medium-sized mills range between 34,000 and 35,000 EGP/tonne. Ex-works rebar prices remained steady week-on-week within the 34,000–39,500 EGP/tonne range (inclusive of 14% VAT).
Overall, the Egyptian steel market is currently constrained by both limited raw material supplies and weak demand, leading market participants to hold a cautious outlook regarding a near-term recovery in demand. HX160YD+ZM steel strip ,While slab supplies may improve as companies gradually adapt to the new tariff environment, market activity is expected to remain subdued until there is a noticeable rebound in end-user consumption.
