Rebar and wire rod prices have made a strong start to 2008 in the Italian domestic longs market, according to the base reference prices issued by the Brescia Chamber of Commerce price commission on January 8.
Compared to Brescia's pre-Christmas (Dec. 17) levels, rebar base prices have added €25/mt ($37/mt) to their minimum level and €30/mt ($44/mt), to their maximum level, climbing to a range of €250-260/mt ($368-383/mt). Mesh quality wire rod base prices rose by precisely the same degree as rebar, moving up to a range of €450-460/mt ($663-677/mt). Meanwhile, drawing quality wire rod rose to a price range of €465-470/mt, adding €10/mt ($14/mt) to its minimum level and €5/mt ($7/mt) to its maximum level.
Base prices of electro-welded mesh registered the highest price rise of long products in the Italian market during the period in question, up €40/mt ($59/mt) to €280-290/mt ($412-427/mt). No changes were seen, however, in the base prices of merchant bars and beams. Merchant bars remained in a range of €290-300/mt ($427-442/mt), for 10-59 mm sizes and at €320-330/mt ($471-486/mt) for 60-150 mm. Beams prices stayed at €445-455/mt ($655-716/mt) for 80-220 mm IPN, 80-220 mm IPE and for 100-180 mm HE, remaining at €320-330/mt ($471-486/mt) for 80-120 mm UPN.