European HRC trading subdued as buyers retreat for summer break
European hot-rolled coil trading activity remained subdued on August 4, with seasonal holidays keeping many market participants away from their desks and limiting spot purchasing.
Mills in Northern Europe were targeting €715-750 per tonne ex-works, depending on specification, but buyers are not currently interested, sources said, describing demand as weak amid a lack of activity.
“The market is exceptionally quiet at the moment. Most market participants are on holiday and while mills are targeting around €730 per tonne ex-works, there is no urgency among buyers to book material. I cannot remember such a slow summer period,” one buyer in Germany said.
A second buyer source said that there was virtually no buying or selling taking place, that demand remains poor and that most market participants are focused on clearing existing imports and dealing with EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and safeguard-related requirements, rather than purchasing new cargoes.
“The market is effectively waiting for September,” the second buyer source added.
Market participants still in the market provided indications of tradable level at around €710-740 per tonne ex-works, depending on specification, with most hovering around €710-720 per tonne ex-works.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Northern Europe was calculated at €716.25 ($825.14) per tonne on August 4, down by €1.25 per tonne from €717.50 per tonne on August 3.
In Italy, meanwhile, the most recent HRC offers came in at €710-715 per tonne ex-works with the tradable level estimated at €700-710 per tonne ex-works.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Italy was unchanged at €710.63 per tonne on August 4.
Current activity was said to be slow, although sentiment for September was becoming more positive, sources said.
“Stocks at European ports have fallen significantly, while tighter safeguard quotas and reduced import availability are expected to support the market,” a local buyer said.
Salzgitter divests Klöckner DESMA under portfolio strategy
German steelmaker Salzgitter AG has announced the sale of its subsidiary Klöckner DESMA Elastomertechnik GmbH to German-French industrial group NAME & MAWI Partners S.A.S. (NMP) as part of its active portfolio management strategy.
The transaction, carried out under Salzgitter’s “best owner” principle, is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026, while the parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Sale supports Salzgitter AG 2030 strategy
Salzgitter stated that the divestment is part of the implementation of its “Salzgitter AG 2030” group strategy and is intended to create sustainable long-term development opportunities for its portfolio companies.
Commenting on the transaction, Gunnar Groebler, CEO of Salzgitter AG, said the sale follows a careful strategic review and reflects the company’s consistent portfolio management approach. He added that Salzgitter believes Klöckner DESMA Elastomertechnik will have favorable conditions for further development under its new owner, benefiting both the company and its employees through a clear long-term perspective.
NMP targets global expansion through acquisition
Narith Meksavanh, CEO of NMP Group, stated that the acquisition supports the company’s strategy of expanding its production capacity and international sales network to meet growing customer demand. He noted that combining DESMA’s manufacturing capabilities with NMP’s global sales network would strengthen the group’s position, particularly in the US, Indian and Chinese markets. NMP specializes in splitting, sciving and cutting technologies for soft materials and manufactures machinery primarily for the leather, rubber, footwear and packaging industries.
Klöckner DESMA manufactures injection molding machines for rubber and silicone products. In addition to injection molding machines, the company supplies complete production solutions including mold systems, cold runner systems and customized automation equipment for customers in the automotive, power distribution, power generation, raw materials, infrastructure, medical technology and household appliance industries.
Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team
Producer prices in French industry down 0.6 percent in June 2026 from May
In June this year, producer prices in French industry were down by 0.6 percent month on month and up by 2.6 percent year on year, according to the statistics released by France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). Producer prices for manufactured products in France decreased by 0.6 percent in June compared to May and increased by 3.2 percent year on year.
In the given month, prices for exported manufactured products went down by 0.1 and prices of exported transport equipment increased by 0.1 percent, both month on month. On year-on-year basis, in June prices of exported manufactured products went up by 3.6 percent, while prices of exported transport equipment saw a 0.8 percent increase.
Meanwhile, import prices for manufactured products in France in June fell by 1.2 percent month on month and up by 4.4 percent year on year.
Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team
Derichebourg completes acquisition of Germany-based Scholz following EC approval
In a press release issued on Friday, July 31, 2026, France-based Derichebourg announced that it has completed the acquisition of 100 percent of Scholz Recycling Group, as previously set out in the agreement dated May 5, 2026, and approved last week by the European Commission under Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 on July 23, 2026. With this move, Derichebourg will strengthen its strategic position in the scrap and metals recycling industry.
Founded in 1872, Scholz Group built a significant presence in the recycling segment, generating a turnover of €1.6 billion and selling more than 3 million mt of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, paper and plastics in 2025. Scholz currently employs more than 3,500 people across Europe, with sites in Germany, Czechia, Poland, Slovenia, Austria and Romania.
Derichebourg stated that the acquisition will enable it to expand its operations into areas where it is not yet present, as well as “support decarbonisation of the steel industry in Europe to meet growing demand from European steelmakers, who will be replacing their traditional blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces – which consume large quantities of high-quality scrap steel – over the coming years”, the company statement says.
Abderaman El Aoufir, Derichebourg SA’s CEO, stated, “The completion of this acquisition [which had a transaction enterprise value of €480 million] marks a pivotal step in our international expansion strategy. We have been able to respond swiftly to a complex market opportunity thanks to the strength of our balance sheet and our industrial vision. The teams at Scholz have shown exceptional resilience, and we will now join forces to build, by leveraging our complementary strengths, a leading European player in recycling that supports the green transition. I would like to welcome them to the Derichebourg Group.”
Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team