A certain improvement in billet prices has started to be seen in the Italian market, reflecting the improvement seen in the overall European market. SteelOrbis has learned that, at the moment, CIS and Ukraine offerings to Italy for standard quality billets (130 x 130 mm and 140 x 140 mm) for reinforced concrete rebar and merchant bar production stand at $400/mt FOB.
In the local Italian market, the trading volume is lower as compared to Europe in general. Just a few Italian mills are deciding to buy materials: many players blame the current disproportionate market situation characterized by a lack of balance between billet prices and finished product prices. In Italy, the price of standard quality local production billets stands at €280-300/mt ex-mill.