The Italian scrap market has once again observed negligible movements this week, with trade prices mostly unchanged, except for some small upward adjustments, mainly due to cost increases.
Scrap traders continue to complain about a structural shortage of material, which would justify a potential increase in prices, but at the same time consumers’ demand for scrap continues to be at low levels. "The statements after the fair [Düsseldorf Tube&Wire 2026] indicated that all is good for the next quarter, but they are more aimed at justifying to their [mills’] customers increases based on energy and transport costs. But objectively I don't see an increase in volumes, and our market should be based on trade volumes, which are instead cut to the bone," an Italian scrap trader said.
Producers, for their part, have little will to buy and they are likely to conclude new deals at substantially unchanged prices. "I have observed a good inflow from the national market by paying the same prices as last week" a source at an Italian mill said. "There have been some small adjustments abroad. The French seem to be the ones who are struggling the most. With them, I have closed at levels which are €10/mt higher, while I have bought at levels higher by €5-7/mt from Germany. Be careful, though. I have granted these increases to meet the needs of suppliers, because all of them are struggling with higher costs of fuel and transport," he concluded.
According to sources, a major Italian mill has stopped scrap deliveries by train and truck in favor of deliveries of scrap by ship, while continuing to buy at almost unchanged prices and only some scrap categories.
In addition, it seems that another producer in northern Italy has increased its purchase prices in deals by €10/mt for busheling scrap (E8) and by €15/mt for cut grades (E1), but at the same time it must be noted that the same producer had remained out of the market in the past few weeks, so these increases can be interpreted as an alignment with the current scrap price levels.
Having said that, no significant changes have been observed in Italian scrap prices, which continue to stand at the levels indicated below, although, for some E3 old scrap grades, prices have also been reported at higher levels by about €10/mt compared to the higher end of the range.
| Quality | Average spot price (€/mt) | Average spot price (€/mt) | Average spot price (€/mt) |
| Period | April 22 | April 9 | March 26 |
| Turnings (E5) | 285-300 | 285-300 | 285-300 |
| HMS (E1/E3) | 285-315 | 285-315 | 280-315 |
| Shredded (E40) | 325-345 | 325-345 | 320-345 |
| Busheling (E8) | 330-340 | 330-340 | 330-340 |
Prices include delivery and exclude VAT.
