Flat steel prices have remained firm in the Italian market in the past week due to the scarce availability of import options. Domestic hot rolled coil (HRC) base prices in Italy are currently at €550-560/mt ($781-793/mt), while domestic cold rolled coil (CRC) and hot dip galvanized (HDG) coil quotations are respectively at €635-645/mt ($781-793/mt) and €640-650/mt ($787-800/mt), all ex-works.
According to market sources, prices could soon reach maximum levels in the Italian market, though prices globally continue to move upwards. Demand in the market is not great, but cannot be described as weak either. Meanwhile, distributors' prices are not high enough compared to their purchasing prices and so their margins are unsatisfactory.
€1 = $1.23