Rebar in the Italian domestic market is still being exchanged at base prices of €490-500/mt, i.e., at €750-760/mt ex-works for 12-25 mm diameter. This is the same level that was reported last week. However, sources have told SteelOrbis that producers are currently trying to push up prices to the €500-520/mt base level at least, equal to €760-780/mt ex-works, as they want to compensate for the recent increase in energy and scrap prices. Buyers are finding it hard to accept such prices at the moment, as end-user demand is still weak, also due to adverse weather. Most sources expect local prices will not change much until the end of this year, while they may improve early next year thanks to new projects and the expected increase in exports from the EU to the US after the agreement between the parties on the Section 232 duties. Although the US quota assigned to imports from Italian producers is expected to be small, the same producers expect to take advantage of the room left by their competitors in other markets.