EU plans to reintroduce country-specific quotas on certain steel products
In a notification published by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 11 June 2025, the European Union (EU) announced plans to amend safeguard measures on imports of certain steel products.
According to the notification, these changes cover product category 17, which is defined as “angles, shapes and sections of iron or non-alloy steel”.
The EU had previously introduced a single “global quota” system applicable to all countries, abolishing the country-specific quotas for Türkiye, the United Kingdom and Korea after Ukraine halted its exports of this product group in 2022 due to the war.
However, the EU Commission found that the restriction imposed under this global quota system, which limits any country’s quota share to 15%, has caused some traditional suppliers’ trade volumes to fall below historical levels.
Accordingly, the Commission proposed a regulation to abolish the 15% quota cap and reintroduce country-specific quotas for Türkiye, the United Kingdom and Korea. According to the Communication, if adopted, this would enter into force on July 1, 2025. In addition, country-specific quota holders will not be able to benefit from the “residual quota” in the last quarter of the safeguard year.
The proposed measures will last until June 30, 2026, with a gradual liberalization of 0.1% per year.
In the notification, it was also stated that meetings will be held with the relevant exporting countries in Brussels or online between June 12-19, 2025, and that members wishing to request consultation in this context can apply to the EU Delegation or the Commission.
European longs prices decline amid sluggish activity
The European longs market has showed substantial weakness in demand this week, although there have been no major downward adjustments in the prices of rebar or wire rod. In spite of a general lack of trust in the market sentiment, the bottom has likely been reached, as prices are unlikely to fall further under the current conditions, at least in the rebar market.
In the Italian rebar market, prices have been reported at €250-260/mt ex-works base (€515-525/mt ex-works including regular extras), with lows of €240/mt ex-works base (€505/mt ex-works including regular extras). Demand is still low, as end-users are reluctant to make purchases and they are waiting for prices to reach the minimum level. According to a representative of an Italian steel mill, however, this level has already been achieved, and “waiting too long would mean not receiving the goods on time” because of logistical problems on Italian territory. According to an Italian trader, however, the difficulties derive from oversupply: “If producers do not come up with the idea of stopping their plants, prices certainly cannot recover” he said.
A small price recovery in the longs market is instead happening in Germany, where, due to the increases in scrap prices and the previous lack of rebar, prices have settled slightly upwards.
Small declines have been recorded in the wire rod market in Italy, “in the wake of the negative information about scrap that was circulating in May”, a source commented. The market, however, seems to be moving towards stabilization, and demand is now balanced by supply. According to the latest SteelOrbis surveys, wire rod prices in the local Italian market have declined by €5/mt compared to previous levels and are standing at €620-635/mt delivered for drawing quality wire rod and €605-620/mt delivered for mesh grade wire rod.
In Germany and Poland, on the other hand, wire rod prices have been reported at higher levels, equal to – respectively – €645-660/mt delivered and €630-645/mt delivered for drawing quality wire rod and €610-625/mt delivered and €600-620/mt delivered for mesh grade wire rod. Poland is particularly affected by the unfavorable exchange rate with the dollar, which has weakened from $1 = PLN 4.14 at the beginning of the year to $1 = PLN 3.68 on June 12.
As for the export market, ex-Greece prices for rebar and wire rod have been reported at €575/mt FOB and €570/mt FOB respectively, while there was no change in rebar export prices from Spain to UK ports, which remain at around €550/mt FOB.
Finally, the import market from Turkey has also been stable and lacking movement, with rebar prices being reported at €495-510/mt CFR and wire rod prices at €510-515/mt CFR. Prices are based on the exchange rate $1 = €0.87 (European Central Bank, June 11), and have marked a slight decrease on dollar basis but a slight increase on euro basis due to exchange rate fluctuations.
Romanian long steel market stable but demand remains low
The Romanian long steel market has remained stable in the past week, with business activity continuing at a slow pace. Most long steel spot traders, along with the country’s sole rebar producer, have chosen to keep prices unchanged over the past week. Despite stable prices, market sources report that overall conditions in the domestic market remain weak, as sluggish demand persists and previous price cuts have failed to stimulate sales. Additionally, sources report that recent changes in the government have led to a decline in both public and private investments. With the summer period approaching, market players expect a financially difficult few months ahead.
“Unfortunately, sales in Romania are weak. The government has not yet been formed, and investment has decreased significantly in both the public and private sectors. Prices only drop for larger-volume purchases,” a trader told SteelOrbis.
At present, rebar prices from Romania’s sole producer remain stable week on week at €590-605/mt ex-works, while traders’ rebar prices are also unchanged, at €590-600/mt ex-warehouse.
Similarly, the outlook for the wire rod segment remains pessimistic, with traders continuing to offer prices at €580-595/mt ex-warehouse, the same as last week.
In the import market, no new purchases have been reported. However, Greek offers for rebar and wire rod remain steady at €600-605/mt CFR and €595/mt CFR, respectively. Similarly, Bulgarian rebar offers have remained stable from last week at €610-630/mt CPT. In contrast, Egyptian rebar and wire rod offers have declined to €505-510/mt CPT and €520-525/mt CPT, down from last week’s €510-520/mt CPT and €535-545/mt CPT. Likewise, Turkish rebar offers to Romania have dropped by €10/mt, now at €490-510/mt CFR, based on an exchange rate of €1 = $1.16 and freight costs of €25-30/mt.
Volvo Cars signs up for SSAB Zero steel
SSAB and Volvo Cars have signed a landmark agreement for the delivery of SSAB Zero steel starting already this year, Kallanish hears from the Swedish steelmaker.
According to SSAB, this agreement makes Volvo the first automaker to commit to using decarbonised steel in serial production.
According to SSAB, its proprietary SSAB Zero is the world’s first commercially available steel produced from recycled scrap metal using fossil-free electricity and biogas. This process results in steel with virtually zero fossil carbon emissions, available in a variety of grades and dimensions.
The steel will be used in key components of Volvo Cars’ upcoming fully electric EX60 SUV, as well as other cars based on Volvo Cars’ next-generation SPA3 car architecture. It meets the same stringent safety standards and performance requirements as the primary steel used in Volvo Cars, SSAB says.
Volvo Cars is committed to a fully electric future and has the ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. “With forward-thinking partners like Volvo Cars, we continue to lead the transformation of the steel industry,” says Tony Harris, head of SSAB Europe.
Christian Koehl Germany
ArcelorMittal Spain consolidates distribution at new Madrid centre
ArcelorMittal Spain is constructing a new distribution centre at its former beam production plant in Villaverde, Madrid, Kallanish notes. The site aims to become a strategic logistics hub dedicated to steel distribution, long product processing, and steel recycling.
The new facilities will cover a total area of 26,300m², of which 20,000m² will be under roof, allowing the consolidation of services that were previously provided at ArcelorMittal’s Getafe and Coslada locations in Madrid.
“The ability to offer new services from Villaverde will enable us to adequately meet the demand for steel products in the Madrid region and surrounding provinces,” says ArcelorMittal Distribution Iberia.
The new centre will be equipped with four long product cutting saws, two saws with drilling capability, an oxy-cutting table, and a new shot blasting and painting installation. These additions will position the Madrid centre as one of the most advanced long product processing facilities in the region, according to the company.
The industrial warehouse is being built using ArcelorMittal’s XCarb steel. More than 1,300m² of solar panels with a capacity of 300 MWh will be installed on the roof, and charging stations for both commercial and freight electric vehicles will also be provided.
The new facility is scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2026.
ArcelorMittal closed production at the Villaverde plant in 2012, later converting the site into a scrap purchasing point and a centre for processing and distributing steel products.
Todor Kirkov Bulgaria
Italian rebar prices continue to decline
Italian rebar prices are experiencing a downward trend week-on-week, continuing the significant decrease noted in May, which aligns with developments in all long products markets.
Although the market is subdued, a major southern distributor reports that rebar demand has been rising recently. A construction company also reports multiple projects are underway, and it is placing weekly orders for rebar, Kallanish hears.
“There is complete and utter uncertainty. Shipments are decreasing as many clients are waiting,” a mill source states.
Domestic transactions have lost about €10/tonne ($11) compared to last week on average and are hovering at €250/t ex-works. Effective rebar values are at €510-520/t ex-works, with size extras averaging at €260-270/t. Domestic mesh contracts are also decreasing by €10/t to €350-360/t on average. This does not include transport charges or size extras, which are at roughly €300/t, according to sources.
Natalia Capra France
Italian coil buying recovery forecast for end-June
The Italian coil market is currently experiencing subdued sales, with buyers largely adopting a wait-and-see approach, making only minimal purchases to address minor stock gaps. Two large service centres indicate elevated inventory levels as a result of persistently weak downstream demand, Kallanish notes.
Hot rolled coil prices have largely remained stable this week, following a downward trend observed in Europe the previous week. Import offers are showing signs of weakness, prompting both re-rollers and service centres to adopt a cautious approach as they assess market conditions, waiting for the bottom.
Producer sources suggest limited sales; however, this situation is believed to be temporary. There is an expectation for prices to rebound post-summer, driven by increases in both imported and domestic values due to the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from January.
The CBAM effect presents a strategic opportunity for European producers to increase their pricing. This situation, however, may lead to a stagnation in sales, as end-users along with distribution and service centres, are unable to transfer any cost increases downstream.
A prominent service centre suggests contracts originating from Asia need to be finalised by the end of July or early August to ensure timely delivery of material before year-end. He predicts the market will resume buying activity in the final week of June. Another buyer plans to make purchases from Asia in July. Both sources believe that neighbouring countries, such as Turkey and North Africa, will increase their prices in September, as they will be the sole import alternatives for Europe.
Italy is currently observing a trend of declining HRC offers from Turkey, North Africa, and the Far East. Present offers from Turkey are observed falling within the range of €510-515/tonne ($588-594) cfr Italy, inclusive of duties; however, sellers appear open to negotiations.
Indonesia is currently priced at €470/t cfr, whereas other Asian producers, including those in Vietnam and Thailand, are pricing their large-tonnage vessels at between €500/t and €515/t cfr. Sources suggest the base delivery price of Italian HRC is at €570-600/t.
Natalia Capra France
European steel CRC, HDG still dropping on lack of demand
Southern Europe
Sources indicated that the market for cold-rolled coil was at €680-700 ($760-783) per tonne ex-works during the assessment period, widening downward by €20 from €700 per tonne ex-works the previous week.
Offers were heard at €680-690 per tonne ex-works this week.
Sources cited “competitive imports” and a “bearish mood from buyers” as the main contributors to the price drops, while also pointing to slower end-user demand.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel CRC, domestic, exw Southern Europe was €680-700 per tonne on Wednesday, down €10-20 from €700-710 per tonne the previous week.
At the same time, import prices for CRC to Southern Europe dropped in the week to Wednesday. This week, reported offers from Asia hovered around €620-650 per tonne CFR, compared with €635 per tonne CFR during the previous week.
Deals were heard at €635 per tonne CFR this week.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel CRC, import, cfr main port Southern Europe was €620-635 per tonne on Wednesday, falling by €10 from €630-645 per tonne the previous week.
Meanwhile, the market for domestic hot-dipped galvanized coil also moved downward during the assessment period.
Sources estimated the market for domestic HDG in Southern Europe at €700 per tonne ex-works this week, compared with €720-730 per tonne ex-works during the previous week.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel HDG coil, domestic, exw Southern Europe was €700-720 per tonne on Wednesday, falling €10-20 from €720-730 per tonne the previous week.
Import prices for HDG to Southern Europe were unchanged during the week.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel HDG coil, import, cfr Southern Europe was €670-700 per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.
Northern Europe
Domestic HDG prices in Northern Europe fell during the week to Wednesday, according to market sources.
Sources indicated the market for HDG at €700-710 per tonne ex-works this week, compared with €730-740 per tonne ex-works heard in the previous week.
Last week, deals were heard at €720 per tonne ex-works.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel HDG coil, domestic, exw Northern Europe was €700-710 per tonne on Wednesday, down €20 from €720-730 per tonne the previous week.
On the other hand, the market for domestic CRC remained stable during the assessment period.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel CRC, domestic, exw Northern Europe was €700-720 per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.
Import prices for HDG and CRC were also unchanged during the week.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel hot-dipped galvanized coil, import, cfr Northern Europe held at €700-740 per tonne on Wednesday.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel cold-rolled coil, import, cfr Northern Europe was stabe at €650-660 per tonne on Wednesday.
Published by: Davide Montagner
European buyers postpone steel HRC bookings while price downtrend continues
“Buyers tend to rush bookings when prices are rising. In a falling market, there is no rush,” a trader source from Northern Europe told Fastmarkets.
Fastmarkets’ calculation of the daily steel HRC index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was €600.00 ($684.90) per tonne on Thursday, down by €0.83 per tonne day on day.
Official offers from key suppliers in Northern Europe were heard at €620 per tonne ex-works while tradeable levels were widely estimated at €590-600 per tonne ex-works, depending on the tonnage in discussion.
Some market sources reported estimates as low as €570-580 per tonne, referring to limited demand from key consuming industries such as automotive, chemical, construction and energy.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel HRC index, domestic, exw Italy, was calculated at €581.88 per tonne on Thursday, down by €1.04 per tonne from €582.92 per tonne on Wednesday.
One market source reported that an integrated supplier was not ready to accept prices lower than €585-590 per tonne ex-works, while material from a re-roller was available €10-15 per tonne lower.
A buyer source described demand as low but stable, and predicted no price rise in the near future.
Low offers from foreign suppliers was another factor weighing on the European domestic flat steel market.
Indonesian HRC was available at €490-500 per tonne CFR to Italy for August shipment. Nevertheless, sources said that customers were cautious about booking from this origin amid rumors that Indonesia might be included in safeguard actions, or that an anti-dumping investigation might be started against the country in response to its aggressive trading behavior.
India-origin material was offered around €535-540 per tonne CFR, while Turkish coil was said to be available at €540 per tonne CFR, duty paid.
Published by: Vlada Novokreshchenova
EUROMETAL highlights European market challenges at UAHE’s 2025 General Assembly in Madrid
EUROMETAL took part in the 2025 General Assembly of UAHE (La Unión de Almacenistas de Hierros de España), held yesterday in Madrid, bringing together key actors from Spain’s steel distribution and warehousing sectors.
EUROMETAL was represented by Vice-President Fernando Espada, who also serves as General Manager of Tata Steel Layde in Durango. He delivered a keynote presentation on the current challenges facing the European long and flat steel markets, offering a comprehensive overview of macroeconomic trends, industrial activity, and market expectations across the continent.
Espada highlighted a diverging trend between the longs and flats segments. The construction sector, which primarily drives demand for long products, had shown weakness in recent quarters — largely due to elevated borrowing costs. However, recent signs of stabilization and expected interest rate easing have boosted sentiment. The EU27 Public Infrastructure Index indicates a positive trajectory in the medium term, signaling potential recovery in public works and civil engineering activity.
On the other hand, the flat steel market remains subdued, with demand levels described as “almost flat.” Despite this, producers and service centers are maintaining capacity, cautiously optimistic about a potential industrial rebound.
Beyond product-specific dynamics, Espada emphasized that the overarching challenge for European industry is to sustain activity and safeguard steel consumption amid structural transitions — including digitalization, decarbonization, and global trade pressures.
“Keeping industrial activity in Europe is essential not only for steel consumption but for the resilience of our entire value chain,” he noted.
Espada also addressed the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its expected impact on the steel supply chain. While reaffirming support for the EU’s decarbonisation objectives, he stressed the need for clear guidance, transparency, and harmonized implementation across Member States to ensure fair competition and operational predictability for importers, traders, and service centers.
He pointed out that many distributors are still navigating the complexities of CBAM compliance and urged policymakers to engage closely with the steel distribution sector, particularly to avoid placing disproportionate burdens on SMEs.
EUROMETAL’s presence at UAHE’s General Assembly underlines the importance of collaboration between national federations and the European umbrella. Forums like this are essential for sharing knowledge, aligning on challenges, and strengthening the role of steel distributors and processors across Europe.