Flat steel prices in the Italian market continue to be more or less stable, though local steel mills are pushing for increases. Mills' domestic offers have risen slightly compared to recent weeks, with hot rolled coil (HRC) base prices at €530-535/mt ($705-712/mt), cold rolled coil (CRC) at €600-610/mt ($798-811/mt) and hot dip galvanized (HDG) at €580/mt ($771/mt), all ex-works. The above HDG price has been influenced by factors such as overcapacity and the desire to attract orders.
Given the decline in downstream activity, flat steel demand in Italy is still very low. According to sources consulted by SteelOrbis, there is a lack of liveliness in the market, while tensions are emerging, including extremely rigid prices. Market players still await the awakening of the downstream market.
In the meantime, import activity is generally slack, except for the booking of some HRC orders. Market players say that import offers are not very competitive at the moment.
€1 = $1.33