Domestic rebar prices in Italy have continued to remain stable in the past week, i.e., in the range of €750-760/mt ex-works.
However, starting from yesterday, July 22, some steel mills have been trying to revive the situation by proposing price increases. "Just this morning, some producers raised their prices, bringing them to €780/mt," one source told SteelOrbis yesterday evening. The move, according to another source, could be "the usual producers' tactic to keep prices afloat."
Rebar prices in Italy, like those of other steel products, have risen dramatically in past months, starting from €390-400/mt in late November 2020 and recording only a brief setback in February (€540-550/mt has been the lowest price so far this year).
While, on the one hand, prices continue to be supported by a certain shortage of supply, on the other hand they have stopped increasing since mid-June due to the weakening of demand owing to seasonal factors.
The announced price increases may not be absorbed, but producers would be satisfied if there were no price declines.