A cloud in a clear sky - with this meteorological metaphor we can sum up the situation observed in the Italian merchant bar market in recent weeks.
The cloud in question (the recent slight fall in prices), however, does not appear capable of disturbing a sector characterized by calm and stability. Currently, the steel mills have a satisfactory number of orders on their books, especially due to external demand, both from EU and non-EU countries. Furthermore, some producers have of late reported an increase in apparent demand coming from Italian distributors.
Retail warehouses, on the other hand, are reporting sales activity levels which lack brilliance and strong competition between traders - factors which have resulted in increased agressivity as regards prices in recent days. This trend, however, given the firmness of the mills in issuing quotations, seems unlikely to continue but rather is expected to give way to a situation of greater stability.
With regard to the weeks ahead, the market expectations are for calm in terms of demand levels and for stability in prices, at least until the summer holidays.