According to market sources, producer prices in the local Italian hot rolled plate (HRP) market for S275 heavy plates are currently at €510-520/mt ($602-614/mt) ex-works. Due to low demand, prices have been decreasing moderately as compared to the September levels of €530-550/mt ($625-650/mt) ex-works. Currently, local producers are inclined to offer €5/mt discounts on big orders, but they are unwilling to lower their prices below the level of €500/mt ($580/mt). Demand is still weak in the Italian market, but import prices are not that competitive and so local distributors are buying import material only to complete their stocks with certain types of products. Looking ahead, market sources are moderately optimistic for the first quarter of the New Year, as no significant import volumes are expected to enter the market, while local buyers should need to increase their stocks. Consequently, local HRP prices may trend sideways or even increase in the first month of 2018.
€1 = $1.18