Italian coated flat steel market remains weak

The depressed economy in Italy, low coated steel demand and cheaper import offers from China are negatively affecting the Italian coated flat steel market.
 
As SteelOrbis previously reported, back in November 2011 the European Steel Association (EUROFER) filed an antidumping complaint with the European Commission against China's pre-painted sheet and plastic coated sheet imports into the European Union (EU). Following this application, an antidumping investigation was launched and is still continuing. In addition, on February 22, the European Commission (EC) announced the initiation of a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation regarding organic coated steel plate imports originating from China. According to EUROFER, "Over the past four years imports from China into the EU increased dramatically, despite the drop in EU consumption, and the share in the EU market of organic coated steel (consist of pre-painted sheet and plastic coated sheet) from China increased from 0.5 percent in 2004 to 15 percent in 2011.
 
However, since demand for hot dip galvanized (HDG) coil and pre-painted galvanized iron (PPGI) in Europe is currently low, Chinese offers do not have much influence on the market for the time being.
 
SteelOrbis has learned from market sources that Indian 0.6 mm PPGI offers to Italy are standing at €780/mt ($1,030/mt) CFR, while Indian offers for 0.6 mm hot dip galvanized (HDG) sheet are at €660-670/mt ($871-884/mt) CFR.
 
In the meantime, in the Italian domestic market 0.6 mm HDG prices are at €670/mt ($911/mt), while prices for 100 gr/m² zinc coated RAL 9001 pre-painted sheet of 0.6 mm thickness are standing at €840/mt ($1,082/mt), both ex-works.
 
 
€1 = $1.32