Although not much change in the price levels of semis and longs was reported at Black Sea, market players remained rather pessimistic while flats were more optimistic and stable. Billet producers are offering this week in the range of USD 560 per tonne to USD 585 per tonne FOB Black Sea. But the “high” is not realistic, it seems. We have heard that two major players are offering at about USD 565 per tonne and USD 560 per tonne, for other than Iran. But, buyers have in mind even lower rates for billets. Finished longs market is under pressure. The range looks the same, but it seems that producers are ready to discount proposed levels by USD 10 per tonne to USD 15 per tonne for an actual buyer. The market for flats was in better shape. Some producers even tried to increase prices, but have already rolled back to the previous week levels. The flat product prices are barely managing to remain stable amidst cracks in long product and scrap prices. The flu seems to have afflicted HRC prices which have mildly dipped by USD 5 per tonne to USD 10 per tonne FOB Black Sea after European and Middle East market emerged damp squib. The range for the Ukrainian HRC material was still USD 575 per tonne to USD 620 per tonne. However CRC market seems give some reasons to cheer up with most of the mills eager to fill October order books. In the process they are testing price hikes to the tune of USD 10 per tonne to USD 20 per tonne. The CRC market is in for a surprise spurt in demand as mills all through the Q2 had truncated production of value added products in order to minimize cost. As a result stocks have depleted leading to increased demand regardless of market swings.