In the Italian scrap market there have hardly been any significant changes compared to our last report of about 10 days ago. Market players just indicate a shortage of the finest quality materials, i.e., busheling and in particular high quality busheling. For the latter, there has consequently been a rebound in price, though limited to €10/mt.
Meanwhile, mills' stocks generally have remained in the medium-to-low range, with mills unwilling to increase their levels of scrap stocks in the face of market uncertainty and hesitant demand.
In the Italian scrap market, heavy melting scrap (HMS) stands at €310-330/mt, while shredded scrap and busheling prices are at €350/mt and €380-390/mt respectively. All prices are for delivery to customer.
As for the international market, the scrap buying activity of Turkish mills has remained relatively weak, reflecting the market uncertainty and the political problems faced by various countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Against this backdrop, US scrap supplies are weak, while exports of scrap from Europe are hampered by the strength of the euro against the dollar.
On the import side too, sluggishness is observed, and, as some market players have told SteelOrbis, prices from central European suppliers - from Germans, in particular - are unlikely to decrease significantly in the near future.