On the occasion of the presentation of the 2017 financial results of Italian long product producer Feralpi Group, company president Giuseppe Pasini stated that in the first five months of this year the volumes of steel exported by the group to the United States amounted to 65,000 mt, while its sales in Algeria were negligible due to the fact that Algerian domestic prices are too low.
In 2017, Feralpi's sales to destinations outside the EU decreased but only slightly, while in the first six months of this year both volumes and sales recorded positive changes, a sign that the absence of Algeria has been compensated for in an excellent manner.
Sales to the US are also continuing. SteelOrbis asked Mr. Pasini how this was possible given the Section 232 tariffs. In answer, he stated, "Concerning the American market, prices in the US are higher than in Europe, which still allows us to export to this country, as well as to Canada and Mexico, despite these markets being more difficult than the Algerian one. Of course, we are trying to go where there are good market conditions. We have also partially compensated for the loss of the Algerian market by being somewhat more active in Europe: consumption in Germany are still growing, and this certainly has a positive influence on Feralpi's sales and margins. All this allowed us to maintain a turnover of €200 million in 2017. Nevertheless, we hope we will continue to be able to sell to the US in the future."