French stainless producer Aperam has increased the March alloy surcharges for its austenitic range of flat stainless steels for Europe by over €100/tonne ($122) compared to last month, Kallanish learns from the company.
The surcharge for grade 304 (1.4301) has gone from €1,713/t in February to €1,846/t effective 1 March. For grade 316 it has gone from €2,419/t this month to €2,629/t next month. Grade 309S, a heat-resistant stainless steel used in high-temperature applications, has increased from €2,311/t to €2,511/t in March. The surcharge for the most popular ferritic grade, 409, has risen from €604/t in February to €635/t next month, the company reveals.
Nickel prices for cash buyers have steadily increased in recent months. Offers for cash buyers were at $18,142/t on 26 January and reached $19,352/t as of 24 February, Kallanish notes.
