The New Year has begun with an Italian scrap market supported by good demand, with attractive prices especially for higher scrap qualities recently bought by flat steel producers, according to Assofermet, the Italian association of traders of iron, steel, non-ferrous metals, ferrous scrap, hardware and similar goods.
Concerning medium-to-low scrap categories, the domestic scrap market will gain shape only after the restart of production by all long steel mills.
Meanwhile, wholesalers have good inventories, but sales are gradual.
Currently, the European market is oriented in an upward direction in terms of prices.
Looking at the international market, emerging countries are continuing to purchasing scrap at very attractive prices, also due to the strengthening of the dollar.
Meanwhile, about 67,800 mt of pig iron and 4,000 mt of steel scrap were imported via Port Marghera, Venice in December last year.