eport Period: April 22 – April 29, 2026
Analyst: Amy SteelInsights (amyinsights.com)
*This is a limited preview from the full report. Subscribers receive complete price tables across China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt, full import viability assessments with war risk and inland trucking costs, a week-on-week deep dive comparing this period to April 15–22, and specific, quantified action items for both procurement and sales teams.*
📌 Core Insights Preview (Excerpt from Full Report)
- 📌 Iran Formally Suspends Flat Steel & Slab Exports Until May 30 – Approximately 10 million tonnes per year (25–30%) of national capacity is offline following damage to Mobarakeh Steel and Khuzestan Steel. The official export halt tightens regional semi-finished and flat product supply, removing ambiguity for buyers. (Sources: Etemad, Economic Times, Al Arabiya)
- 📌 Saudi Hadeed Implements Third Price Increase in April – Rising scrap and logistics costs drove Hadeed to raise rebar by 21/tto21/tto704/t and wire rod by 37/tto37/tto717/t. The cumulative April rebar increase now stands at approximately $48/t since March, signaling sustained cost-push inflation embedding in the GCC. (Source: SMM)
- 📌 Hormuz Transit Shows Modest Recovery but Remains 92% Below Normal – UN confirms overall traffic down 95.3% since February 28. Some 11 vessels crossed on April 28, but commercial bulk carriers remain effectively blocked. War risk premiums hold at 3–8% of hull value — a 12–40x increase over pre-crisis levels. (Sources: UNCTAD, Clarksons, JMIC)
- 📌 China HRC Export Prices Hit ~1.5-Year High – HRC FOB offers rose to $492–505/t, supported by domestic futures near eight-month highs and tightening regional supply. Elevated prices have started to dampen overseas buying appetite. (Sources: Mysteel, SEAISI)
- 📌 New Saudi MIM Approval Requirement Takes Effect May 1 – Controlled products applying for the SABER Shipment Certificate must now secure prior Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) approval. Without it, shipments will not clear Saudi customs – an immediate compliance gate for exporters. (Source: MIM Announcement)
💰 Price Snapshot (Selected Benchmarks)
| Product | Origin/Market | Price (This Week) | WoW Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billet (3SP, 150mm) | China FOB | $470–478/t | ▲ Rising |
| HRC (SAE1006, 2-3mm) | China FOB | $492–505/t | ▲ Rising (1.5-yr high) |
| Rebar (B500B) | Turkey FOB | $595–620/t | ▲ Rebounding |
| Scrap (HMS 80:20) | CFR Turkey | $401–403/t | ⏸️ Firm |
| Rebar (Official, May) | UAE Emirates Steel | AED 2,721/t ($741/t) | ⏸️ Rolled Over |
| Rebar (Official, Apr) | Saudi Hadeed | SAR 2,640/t ($704/t) | ▲ Third Hike |
Full report includes: Complete China FOB table across eight product categories, Saudi domestic vs. import parity analysis, UAE billet shortage tracker, Egypt safeguard duty-adjusted landed costs, Turkey export competitiveness matrix, and detailed week-on-week changes versus prior period.
🚢 Port & Logistics Status Summary
| Port | Status | Steel Import Viability | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jebel Ali (UAE) | 🔴 Restricted | Effectively Closed | Inbound vessel access blocked by Hormuz; 5.5-day waiting for few that arrive |
| Dammam (Saudi) | 🔴 Restricted | Inaccessible | All cargo must divert via Jeddah |
| Jeddah (Saudi) | 🟡 Operational | Primary Gateway | Container rates from China fell 11% in April to $4,969/40ft as landbridge routes mature |
| Sohar (Oman) | 🟢 Operational | Viable Alternative | Inland trucking to UAE adds $55–75/t; low congestion |
💡 Actionable Advice Preview
For Procurement Managers (Buyers)
- ⏳ Do NOT place new orders to Dammam/Jebel Ali. Hormuz traffic remains at only ~8% of normal. Jebel Ali average waiting time holds at 5.5 days for the tiny fraction of vessels that can reach port. Defer all east coast orders until transit exceeds 50 vessels/day for 3+ consecutive days.
- ⚠️ Address Saudi MIM Approval Immediately. Controlled products require MIM approval for SABER Shipment Certificate effective May 1. Without it, shipments will not clear Saudi customs. Verify your HS codes now and factor 5–10 extra working days into delivery schedules.
For Export Sales Managers (Sellers)
- ✅ Fill Iran’s Supply Vacuum in Flat Products and Billet. Iran’s formal export suspension to May 30 (likely longer) removes a key supplier for Iraq, Gulf re-rollers, and regional flat product buyers. Position your reliable CFR Jeddah or CFR Sohar offers with transparent war risk surcharges.
- ⚠️ Prepare for the MIM-SABER Gate. Communicate the new May 1 requirement to all Saudi buyers immediately. Exporters who arrive at the border without MIM clearance face shipment rejection. Early preparation becomes a competitive advantage.
📈 What You Get in the Full Report
The complete 20+ page weekly report equips you for six-figure procurement and sales decisions with:
- Comprehensive Price Tables: 40+ price points across 8 product categories and 6 regional markets, all with source citations.
- Week-on-Week Deep Dive: A dedicated section comparing this week’s data against April 15–22 across seven dimensions—prices, policy, currencies, logistics, sentiment, new data, and overall assessment.
- Import Viability Assessment: Quantitative landed cost analysis comparing Chinese, Turkish, and Indian origins against Saudi and UAE domestic benchmarks, adjusted for war risk and inland trucking.
- Policy & Compliance Tracker: Full detail on Iran’s export suspension, Egypt’s final three-year safeguard rates, and the new Saudi MIM-SABER requirement effective May 1.
- Dual-Perspective Action Items: Separate, prioritized advice for procurement teams and export sales teams with specific price triggers and routing recommendations.
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📧 Questions? Custom reports? Contact amy@amyinsights.com