East Africa's rebar demand: what the Q4 tender book tells us
Infrastructure tenders in Kenya and Tanzania are the heaviest in three years, and they are drawing Gulf rebar east earlier than usual.
Between the Lamu port corridor in Kenya and the standard-gauge railway in Tanzania, the East African tender book for this quarter is the heaviest we have seen in three years. Rebar allocations into Mombasa and Dar es Salaam are being taken weeks earlier than in a normal year, and offers from GCC mills have firmed as a result.
Most of the demand is for B500B bar in 10 to 25 mm, delivered in 12 m lengths and bundled for direct delivery to site. Contractors are asking for mill test certificates in advance and for third-party inspection at the loading port, which favours suppliers who can show consistent documentation.
For buyers, the practical point is to fix freight early. Handysize tonnage out of the Gulf is tight because clinker and sulfur cargoes are competing for the same vessels, and December loading windows are already limited.
Our steel desk holds rebar allocations from GCC mills for November and December loading, in BS 4449 grade B500B, diameters 8 to 32 mm. Enquiries that include full specification, quantity and discharge port can be answered the same day.
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