In the first week after returning from the Christmas holiday, there is still much confusion in the local Italian flat steel market as regards prices. According to market sources, Italian producers are not willing to provide quotations. However, the general consensus is that prices will be similar to those recorded in December, or slightly up. In fact, market sources believe that the upward trend in the market which began in mid-September has lost momentum.
Meanwhile, bookings of import flat steel in Italy are very rare as buyers consider import quotations to be on the high side. Currently, hot rolled coil (HRC) offers to Italy are at €540-550/mt ($572-583/mt) CIF on average.
€1 = $1.06