According to market sources, flat steel prices have trended sideways in the Italian domestic market in the past week. Local demand is still low as buyers’ stocks are at high levels, but producers seem reluctant to allow further decreases against the backdrop of increasing raw material costs and scheduled maintenance works. According to the market sources, prices could resume their decreasing trend if import offers fall, but so far such offers have been considered to be too high compared with domestic prices.
Flat steel prices had been decreasing in the Italian domestic market since the second week of March, when HRC prices were at €485-495/mt ex-works. Hot rolled coil (HRC) transaction prices are now at €460-475/mt ($520-537/mt) ex-works. Meanwhile, cold rolled coil (CRC) and hot dip galvanized (HDG) coil prices are at €545-555/mt ($616-627/mt) and €555-565/mt ($627-638/mt) respectively, all ex-works.
€1 = $1.13