Posted on 29 Jan 2026

Russian billet suppliers are facing sustained pressure from a strong rouble and weak demand, compounded by the seasonal slowdown in the domestic market and harsh winter conditions, market participants inform

Kallanish

.

Cold weather is further weighing on construction activity in several major consuming markets.

Some market participants expect demand to recover only after Ramadan.

Despite Russian sellers insisting on $460-465/tonne cfr Türkiye, bids from this destination market are not exceeding $455/t cfr, according to several sources.

On Wednesday, Turkish benchmark mill Kardemir decreased its billet prices by $5/t to $495/t for 150mm S235JR-grade billet and $505/t for B420 grade, compared with its previous sales on 7 January (

see separate story

).

A trading source notes that stock clearance by Kardemir is adding to market uncertainty, adding that with Turkish rebar prices at $550-570/t and sections at $565-590/t, “Kardemir is right to create pressure given such finished steel levels”.

Russian billet from a major supplier has meanwhile been sold in volume to Türkiye at close to $440/t fob Novorossiysk, a trading source says. Other Russian mills are reported to have either concluded sales or withdrawn from the export market, citing minimum workable levels of $445-450/t fob that buyers are not yet ready to meet, according to the same source.

Source:Kallanish

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