According to sources, ex-CIS basic pig iron offers to Italy are currently at $385-395/mt CFR, indicating a $10/mt increase compared to two weeks ago, and a $25/mt increase compared to the beginning of August.
Market sources said that prices have been increasing very rapidly during summer and may soon reach the psychological threshold of $400/mt, as long as the international market supports such increases. According to sources, demand from steel producers is good, but not good enough to justify such big price increases, which have been due mainly to the recent price increases recorded in the international steel market.