Prices have remained stable in the Italian flat steel market. Hot rolled coil (HRC) base prices are at €520-530/mt ($686-700/mt), cold rolled coil (CRC) base prices are standing at €600/mt ($792/mt), while hot dip galvanized (HDG) coils are offered at €570-580/mt ($752-766/mt). All these prices are ex-works.
According to market sources, flat steel producers in Italy have been talking about rises for the future, but on the contrary transactions have so far been concluded at prices lower than the official offers. Meanwhile, medium-term forecasts are not positive. Downstream, there are only negative signs and demand is still very low. Italian producers' inventory levels are generally low.
Activity is slack on the import side as well. Most traders have sold what they had at the ports, and although some flat steel products have yet to arrive the quantities in question are not large.
Insiders hint at a better situation with regard to exports, due to the appreciation of the dollar against the euro and ongoing projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.
€1 = $1.32