Operating margin indicators at Chinese and Turkish steel mills continue falling with lower steel prices and higher import costs , according to S&P Global Platts . Chinese iron ore import prices rose between August and September as raw material costs rose 50 % , producing indicative margins above the figures for 2017 and 2016 . Chinese mill spreads moved below $ 200 per barrel for the first time since summer 2017 . In Turkey , a strengthening of steel prices and weakening of rebar figures created a new low for the country ’s global rebar - import spread .
Operating margin indicators at Chinese and Turkish steel mills continue falling with lower steel prices and higher material costs, according to S&P Global Platts. Chinese iron ore import prices rose between August and September as raw material costs rose 6.4%, producing indicative margins above the figures for 2017 and 2016. Chinese mill spreads moved below $300 per tonne for the first time since summer 2017. In Turkey, a strengthening of scrap prices and weakening of rebar figures created a new low for the country’s export rebar-import spread.