Category: Latest Updates

Global longs market deteriorates further amid war-related supply-side shock, ceasefire in Iran war offers hope

There have been no signs of improvement in the global long steel products market. On the contrary, the current business environment has, unfortunately, deteriorated rather than improved in terms of the supply and demand balance. The wars, particularly in Iran and Ukraine, have significantly exacerbated existing disruptions across global supply chains. What we have seen looks more like a supply-side shock than a demand recovery: higher energy, electricity and freight costs have pushed prices upward, and these increases have so far been widely accepted by customers as inevitable.

Many economies would enter recessionary territory if ceasefire in Iran war fails to hold

So much will depend on whether the ceasefire just announced in the Iran war will hold. If it does not hold and should energy prices remain elevated, there would a substantial risk that many economies will enter recessionary territory, with wide-ranging and potentially severe consequences. Transportation costs have already risen considerably, while uncertainty surrounding future demand has increased across all major markets. At the same time, there is a noticeable shift toward greater protectionism, further complicating international trade dynamics.

US scrap export volumes decline, UK shifts to containerized scrap exports to Turkey

US ferrous scrap export volumes are in decline due to more domestic consumption and difficult prices in Asian markets, while the UK is shifting to containerized exports to Turkey.

On the bright side, increased pre-ordering and restocking activity observed

Despite the prevailing challenges, there are some positive aspects in the global market. Heightened uncertainty is prompting contractors involved in confirmed construction projects to secure supply in advance, leading to increased pre-ordering in order to mitigate the risk of further cost escalations. Additionally, in an inflationary environment, apparent demand often exceeds actual demand, as businesses tend to build up inventories as a precautionary measure. This dynamic is likely to result in a degree of restocking activity, providing short-term support to market demand.

Three distinct regional dynamics seen in competition in global market

Three distinct regional market dynamics can be identified in terms of the level of competition in the global market, which remains high, though it varies across regions. Broadly speaking, in the United States, competition is largely domestic, with local producers competing primarily within the internal market. In the European Union, the landscape is more mixed, characterized by intense domestic competition alongside a limited presence of imports from third countries. In contrast, in the rest of the world, competition is significantly more intense, with global players actively competing across multiple markets.

Rising costs of energy exerting pressure across the industry

At the same time, rising energy costs – particularly impacting steel producers – along with increasing scrap prices driven by higher oil and transportation costs, have exerted additional pressure across the industry. These factors are contributing to heightened competition globally, as producers strive to maintain margins and market share in an increasingly challenging cost environment. The market has accepted cost-driven price increases up to a certain degree. The uncertainty is in the second-order consequences. As with any supply-side shock, the market may have to rebuild around new supply routes, new energy costs and changing raw material availability, and it is still too early to judge how the wider economy will react. It will be necessary to wait and see what impact the ceasefire in the Iran war – provided it holds – will have on easing the surges in costs and if it will bring about a badly-needed return to something approaching normality for business and trade.

Current market environment very unstable, dependent on US war-related policy decisions

The current market environment can be best described as highly unstable and deeply influenced by geopolitical developments. In particular, the global economy has been increasingly dependent on policy decisions made by the United States administration in relation to the war against Iran, though some hope is now offered by the implementation of the ceasefire. Recent developments have intensified market volatility, with rising energy prices, supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures creating a highly uncertain outlook.  In this context, market conditions remain fragile and unpredictable, with future stability largely contingent on geopolitical outcomes and policy direction in the coming months.

Outlook for next quarter remains uncertain

The outlook for the next quarter remains uncertain, primarily due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Market direction will largely depend on how the situation evolves in the near term.

If the ceasefire holds…

Should the ceasefire hold, an improvement in demand can be expected, leading to a more positive outlook and gradual market stabilization. However, were the ceasefire to break down and war to be renewed, the risk of a significant economic slowdown will increase. In such a scenario, many economies could enter recessionary conditions, with potential project delays or cancellations and an overall challenging business environment. Other than the military-industrial complex, all other industrial sectors would be negatively affected.

Exporting steelmakers in Asia are providing EU buyers with unrealistic verification reports, particularly in relation to ex-China production, sources tell McCloskey, threatening to undermine importers’ best efforts to use verified ‘actual’ emissions data to lessen their Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) liabilities.

McCloskey has spoken with a number of importers and verification experts in assessing the reality of verification reports issued to EU buyers of Asian-origin material, identifying inaccuracies and misalignments in documents that would not pass scrutiny by independent reviewers, or national authorities – as required by the CBAM regulation.

The trend highlights that importers of in-scope steel goods must be wary not only of arranging verification across their supply chains, but also sensitive to the quality and expertise of the verifier, or risk being forced to pay punitive CBAM costs on default values when declarations are due. As illustrated by McCloskey’s Default Values Calculator, additional CBAM costs on default values can even exceed the price of the underlying good itself, for some steel products and origins such as Indonesian hot-rolled coil.

Verification Reports – the improbable and impossible

These verification reports – considered dubious as best – are not limited to smaller, or less experienced consultants. For example, McCloskey had sight of one verification report issued by Bureau Veritas China which assesses direct emissions via primarily integrated blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route production as between 1.1-1.3t CO2e/t – levels described by China CBAM analyst Jing Liu as “ridiculous and absurd […] blatantly violating the basic laws of physics and metallurgy.”

Speaking to McCloskey, Liu outlined how Chinese integrated steel mills are generally reporting BF-BOF direct emissions at around 1.5t CO2e/t, but use data and calculation ledgers that are “flawed,” or could at best be considered “a mess,” drawing comparison to the extensive efforts of European integrated steelmakers to achieve actual emissions reductions to even 1.8t CO2e/t for their carbon steel production.

This is not only true of smaller mills in Asia, but also steelmaking groups with 7-figure total annual capacities, as evidenced by verification reports and source attestations.

The endorsement of this data – and in some cases its original calculation – by those Liu characterises as “internally renowned certification bodies” could thus threaten disaster for European importers that subsequently find their pre-verified emissions, and thus CBAM declarations on ‘actual’ values, rejected by accredited verifiers or EU CBAM authorities, potentially leaving importers without sufficient time to remedy the emission, verification, or overall CBAM report by any significant margin.

What’s in an error?

So how are these unrealistic verification reports produced? Data manipulation is a primary factor, described by Liu as encompassing elements like the omission of precursor data, exaggerated emissions deductions for energy-related elements, and mass-balancing inaccuracies.

A verification report seen by McCloskey appears to only assess CBAM emissions liability on export quantities, as opposed to the installation’s total production capacity (over double the reported volume), claiming a weighted average direct specific energy emissions (SEE) value below 1.3t CO2e/t – even despite the use of default values for iron and ferroalloy precursors.

One of McCloskey’s European trading sources notes that in some cases the ‘verified’ emissions are “clearly calculated to be under the [CBAM] benchmark” – which would suggest to importers that the import material comes free of any CBAM liability via specific embedded free allocation (SEFA) deductions, but of course only where the verification report is accepted by CBAM authorities.

And in fact, following the passing of the deadline to register as an authorised CBAM declarant – necessary to import in-scope CBAM goods, including iron and steel – on 31 March, importers now do not actually have any formal reporting obligations with European authorities until CBAM declarations for embedded emissions imported in 2026 come due, in September 2027.

While these unrealistic verification reports will of course need to be re-assessed on the relevant installation’s emissions data for calendar year 2026 (as the earliest possible reporting period) – rendering said verification reports a form of ‘pre-verification’ – importers have little else to rely on in trusting the integrity of foreign supplier data and making competitive sourcing decisions in the CBAM cost context, especially for smaller importing operators with lesser monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) expertise or insufficient capital for CBAM consultancy services.

Bragging rights?

A German distributor described to McCloskey how their importing competitors have been “showing off” verification reports for Asian-origin steel that generates a minimal or even zero CBAM liability – despite the impossibility of some of the claimed emissions intensities for integrated productions – demonstrating the superficial attractiveness of a low CBAM duty to European steel buyers.

European steelmakers have identified a similar trend toward the impossible, with a source at a re-rolling mill describing a progressive reduction in reported Chinese slab emissions in recent years to the point of “fantasy.”

“The early data we received [from China] was feasible, but has turned into fantasy as time has passed,” said the source, citing emissions reports approaching 1t CO2e/t for integrated slab production.

“Numbers like 1.1t are simply impossible from a blast furnace. I do not think these reports from China are 100% reliable – it seems direct emissions are sometimes presented as indirect emissions, for example, so the total footprint at least looks correct,” said the re-roller.

The steelmaker said that they do not take these reports at face value, and instead use their own estimations for the emissions embedded via BF-BOF semi-finished production. Ultimately, however, any use of ‘actual’ CBAM data requires that this more ‘representative’ data be compiled by the exporter, and subsequently signed-off by an accredited verifier.

Not all doom and gloom, but far to go

A European trading source did offer some solace, stating that some of their suppliers in Asia – particularly among larger steelmaking groups – are demonstrating a greater understanding of CBAM’s unique requirements. These operators are engaging with CBAM requirements  directly, identifying where the instrument introduces data transparency requirements beyond industry and global standards that inform, for example, the Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that previously guided low-carbon sourcing decisions, and aligning their MRV processes to best facilitate the successful verification of their ‘actual’ values.

That said, the trader only attributed a rough 10% of their supply chain to said camp, considering 90% of exporters as insufficiently prepared to produce a defensible verification report. Liu estimated similar levels of competency (for Chinese exporters specifically) in a social media post 8 April, stating “from my observation [of around 80 steel mill reports] 90% of the data from [Chinese] steel mills is incorrect.”

This assessment chimes well with comments made by Francesca Cerchia, Global Head of Climate Solutions at verifier SGS in an OECD webinar back in March, expecting that “zero foreign exporters would pass a CBAM verification today” on the basis of misalignment between industry norms, and the realities of supply chain transparency demanded by CBAM for a successful declaration on ‘actual’ values.

In the Chinese steel sector, market participants tell McCloskey that as the extent of CBAM’s compliance requirements become more clear, buyers are increasingly consolidating their sourcing toward a select group of larger Chinese mills considered better prepared to pass verification, even where these producers command a price premium. This trend is evident both in direct exports to the EU and in shipments to intermediary hubs like Turkey, where the verified emission data of the steel is essential for re-exporting to the European market, a Chinese trader said.

Author: Benjamin Steven and Maria Tanatar

opisnet.com

NLMK DanSteel announced that, as of May 18, 2026, Fredrik Nilsson has been appointed as CEO. Nilsson will replace interim CEO Cornelius Louwrens and will take on the task of strengthening the company’s operational performance.

Fredrik Nilsson has over 25 years of international experience in the metals and materials sector. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Supply Chain and Operations in the Powder Metallurgy division of Höganäs AB. Nilsson has experience managing large-scale operations in Europe, the United States, and China.

Interim CEO Cornelius Louwrens said about Nilsson: “Fredrik Nilsson, with his strong operational expertise and performance-driven approach, is the right person to strengthen DanSteel’s long-term competitiveness.” Nilsson stated: “I look forward to working on further strengthening reliability, quality, and performance with NLMK DanSteel’s solid foundation and team spirit.”

NLMK DanSteel, Denmark’s only steel plate mill, produces high-quality steel products as an important part of NLMK Europe. The company specializes in heavy steel plates used in the wind energy, infrastructure, and heavy industry sectors. Its product portfolio includes advanced steel grades such as quenched and tempered steels, pressure vessel grades, and offshore grades.

Operating under NLMK Europe, DanSteel forms an integrated European production platform with facilities in Denmark, Belgium, and Italy, enabling the company to offer a wide range of plate sizes and specifications. This structure enhances the company’s ability to provide reliable and technically compliant solutions to customers in Europe and beyond.

Author: SteelRadar Editorial Team

steelradar.com

 

The European Commission has published the first quarter price for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificates at EUR75.36, 7 April, allowing importers to better assess their ongoing liability to the carbon leakage instrument. 

The CBAM certificate pricing methodology ties certificate value to the average price of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances, to ensure CBAM imposes equivalent costs on foreign and domestic producers as far as possible.

In 2026, CBAM certificate prices are calculated in reference to the quarterly average of ETS allowances over the period of import for the CBAM good. From 2027, CBAM certificate prices take a weekly average of the ETS price, and are no longer temporally tied to the import period, with importers instead required to hold a minimum 50% of their rolling emissions liability by the end of each quarter.

At a first-quarter price of EUR75.36, the Commission’s published price is slightly below steelmakers’ hopes for CBAM’s inaugural cost reference, depressed by bearish volatility in EUA prices as the EU ETS is increasingly politicised as a factor in the EU’s declining industrial competitiveness on the global stage.

However, as illustrated by McCloskey’s Default Values Calculator, a EUR75 CBAM certificate price still threatens potentially existential costs to small and medium-sized importers, if they fail to sufficiently verify embedded emissions across the supply chain of their imported steels.

For example, Indonesian origin hot-rolled coil (HRC) imported into the EU in Q1 – a trade flow that has arguably been a primary factor in destabilizing the domestic market in the last year via aggressive import offers and exemption from the EU’s existing steel safeguard – could face CBAM costs of as much as EUR580/t if calculated purely on default values.

Imports of Indonesian HRC under commodity code heading 7208 in January are down 37% on the year, according to import data from Global Trade Tracker (GTT), but show a much greater decline in comparison to December clearances – an 86% reduction – illustrating importer desire to minimise CBAM liabilities.

Indian HRC has a lesser, but still significant liability at just over EUR250/t. Code 7208 imports to the EU from India in January, in contrast, have actually increased by 350% on year to almost 200,000 tonnes, or just over 230% higher than December volumes.

McCloskey has tracked high volumes of Indian HRC to the EU’s domestic steelmakers, importing the material for further sale in the EU market, or for processing for downstream portfolio demand.

The EU has already signalled its intention to support India in shifting carbon revenues to its domestic market via provisions included in the recent EU-India Free Trade Agreement, relating to India’s national carbon pricing scheme, the creation of a new default value dataset for in-scope Indian exporters, and the possibility of extending accreditation competencies to India for verification purposes.

Author: Benjamin Steven

opisnet.com

The European Commission has published the first official Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificate price, setting the level at €75.36 for the first quarter of 2026.

The pricing methodology ensures that CBAM certificate costs are aligned with the average price of allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System. This approach is designed to maintain consistency between the carbon costs faced by EU producers and those applied to imports entering the EU market.

For 2026, CBAM certificate prices will be calculated and published on a quarterly basis, with one price set for each calendar quarter. Each quarterly price will be determined during the first week following the end of the respective quarter, based on the weighted average of EU ETS auction clearing prices. The certificate price for the second quarter is expected to be published on July 6.

Starting from 2027, CBAM pricing will shift to a weekly system, increasing responsiveness to market developments and improving transparency. This change is expected to enhance alignment between CBAM costs and real-time carbon market dynamics.

In line with Regulation (EU) 2023/956, CBAM certificates will be purchased through a centralized common platform. This transition will support a fully operational and standardized system for managing carbon cost compliance for imports into the EU.

Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team

steelorbis.com

The Italian downstream segment is being heavily impacted by the consequences of the conflict in Iran, with demand remaining particularly weak for Italian service centres, Kallanish learns.

In this context, a reversal of the current trend appears realistic only if negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict take place, according to a recent note by Italian steel trade association Assofermet.

“The sharp rise in fuel and energy costs is having a dual impact: on one hand, a contraction in downstream demand for finished products; on the other, an increase in logistics and production costs, particularly significant for energy-intensive sectors such as steel. This situation is unfolding against an already complex international backdrop, further complicated by the effects of US protectionist trade policies,” the note states.

CBAM, together with current and new safeguard measures expected to take effect from 1 July and anti-dumping duties, represents a strong deterrent to steel imports. The result is a shift in demand towards European suppliers which is supporting price increases even in an environment of weak demand and consumption, the association warns.

Service centres are reporting slim order books at the start of the second quarter, following a first quarter with overall volumes in sharp contraction.

Assofermet notes that steelmakers are seeing a firmly upward price trend while service centres are more cautious but determined to increase their prices despite the uncertain market environment.

Meanwhile, significant challenges persist around sourcing material from third countries. There is currently a real risk of being unable to guarantee customers the availability of specific grades typically procured from import markets. Supply concerns are persisting around cold rolled coil derivatives, with multiple service centre sources talking about a protracted shortage.

Imports of CRC from Asia have continued despite CBAM charges, but allocations are described as thin. One trader reports auction-style transactions taking place, with CRC quoted as high as €870/tonne cif ($1,002.88/t).

A service centre source that has continued to source imported CRC due to a lack of available European alternatives says it is preparing to inform customers that derivatives of specific cold rolled grades may not be available in the coming months.

Author: Natalia Capra

kallanish.com

European domestic coil producers targeted higher prices for third quarter production in the week to 2 April, while spot prices for second quarter rolling material remained stable, despite special deals settled with a substantial discount in special circumstances. 

Northwest European steelmakers have started to offer third quarter production hot-rolled coil (HRC) at EUR750-770/t ex-works, seeking around a EUR50/t increase compared to the latest transactions. While no spot deals have yet been settled at higher prices, some market participants believe that the combination of toughening of EU import quotas, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) effects, and rising energy costs will force buyers to accept higher prices later this year.

The majority of transactions in the region have been reported at EUR700-730/t ex-works, with most sources reporting deals at EUR720/t ex-works.

A steelmaker in the region has transacted HRC at a lower price of 680/t ex-works. While this information was widely confirmed across the market, reactions with mixed among market participants. Some claim the deal level is evidence of a reverse in price direction, expecting sluggish demand and further weakening of steel consumption to offset bullish supply drivers and soften price levels. Others, however, see the discounted deals as special trades, not repeatable by other buyers and instead offered at lower prices to fill gaps in mill orderbooks.

Multiple market sources, including a party to one of the deals, said that such prices were available only for a limited period to select customers, in small volume, to fill second quarter rolling schedules. The steelmaker has reportedly suffered worse order books in comparison to competitors, with other northwestern steelmakers denying equivalent bids.

“Some deals made with a discount is not a sign of a trend change,” a German service center said. “Some people are trying to speculate on the usual special deals to fill production lines. Such prices could also be available for index-based sales, but not in the spot market.”

Sources reported a deal settled below EUR700/t ex-works in Poland, attributing the trade to an index-based agreement.

Concerns regarding a possible demand decline were fairly unanimous across the market, given the negative outlook for the automotive industry as a result of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Sentiments became particularly acute following Iran’s bombing of aluminium plants in UAE and Bahrain on 29 March, in retaliation for US attacks on Iran’s own steel mills, causing a sharp rise in aluminium prices. This has worrying implications for the automotive sector, as rising oil costs are reportedly also driving prices of plastic car components higher. As supply disruption to only a portion of automotive material requirements could stop production, market participants fear the potential impact on steel consumption.

Despite concerns, multiple sources said that European steelmakers would rather shut down some furnaces to balance supply and demand, than accept lower steel prices.

“Energy costs are higher and will move further up in the second half of the year,” a trader said. “Even if carmakers reduce steel consumption, the demand drop will be bigger compared to cuts of import volumes. Mills will do what they did before – and stop some furnaces.”

In Italy, domestic prices for HRC have been reported at EUR700/t ex-works for second quarter production.

Import HRC offers dry up

The number of import offers for HRC in Europe has decreased as exporters are dealing with rising energy and freight costs, as well as cost risks related to the EU’s new steel import quotas, expected to be in force for July.

European buyers are avoiding relying on the overseas material on similar risk factors, as well as CBAM. Buyers report a preference to monitor import quota usage in the second quarter, assessing whether imports from neighboring exporters (able to deliver before July) might be more attractive in the coming months.

The only import offers of HRC from Turkey have been heard at EUR570-580/t CIF, anti-dumping duty inclusive.

Offers of Asian material on a DDP basis were reported at EUR680-690/t.

Downstream coil – CRC availability scarce

Availability of cold-rolled coil (CRC) remains limited on the continent; European mills have been avoiding the product due to high energy costs, preferring to focus attention on HRC or hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG), with their higher added value.

CRC offers in Northwest Europe have been reported at EUR820-840/t ex-works; and HDG at EUR800-850/t ex-works.

On top of this domestic prioritization of other coil products, import availability of CRC has also decreased due to both pending quota reductions and the Commission’s anticipated decision on the EU’s active anti-dumping probe. The European Commission started an investigation into CRC imports from India, Japan, Turkey, Vietnam and Taiwan, China in September last year.

Only one deal for ex-China CRC was reported at EUR570-580/t CIF Europe, but adding anti-dumping duties brings the price to around EUR690/t CIF. The import will also be subject to CBAM duties, and potentially out-of-quota duties if the volumes exceeds relevant quota limits.

Import CRC from Asia, including CBAM duties, was reportedly available at EUR780-790/t DDP Italian ports.

EU green steel market

Green steel trading has not been a priority for most spot buyers, particularly taking into account demand concerns and rising costs. Sources, however, do report a gradual increase in demand from projects that need to meet their decarbonization targets. Volumes remain muted in comparison to traditional steel trading, but market sources believe that the European Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act could boost demand for low-CO2 steel moving forward.

Spot buyers estimated achievable green premiums at EUR80-90/t for HRC with CO2 content of around 0.7t.

Weekly European steel coil
EUR/t	Term	02-Apr-26	Change
Weekly Northwest Europe steel coil
Northwest Europe ex-works HRC	EX-WORKS	720.00	0.00
Northwest Europe ex-works CRC	EX-WORKS	830.00	0.00
Northwest Europe ex-works HDG	EX-WORKS	820.00	0.00
Weekly South Europe steel coil
Italy ex-works HRC	EX-WORKS	700.00	0.00
South Europe CIF HRC	CIF	575.00	15.00
Source: McCloskey by OPIS.		© 2026 Dow Jones Energy Limited.

Weekly green steel
EUR/t	Term	02-Apr-26	Change
Green Northwest Europe HRC premium (scopes 1-3 CO2 under 0.8t)		85.00	-5.00
Green Northwest Europe ex-works HRC (scopes 1-3)	EX-WORKS	805.00	-5.00
Green HRC premium (scopes 1-2 CO2 under 0.5t)		85.00	-5.00
Green Northwest Europe ex-works HRC (scopes 1-2)	EX-WORKS	805.00	-5.00
Green HRC reduced carbon price (scopes 1-3)		50.61	-17.94

Author: Benjamin Steven & Maria Tanatar

opisnet.com

Italian longs producer Acciaierie Bertoli Safau (ABS), the steelmaking division of equipment maker Danieli Group, has broken ground on its new “Hybrid Digital Green Plant” at its Pozzuolo del Friuli facility in northeast Italy. This represent a €400 million ($461.29m) investment of which €355m is devoted to Danieli equipment, a company spokesperson confirms to Kallanish.

The plant, an advanced special steel production line, is part of ABS’s €817m investment plan for the period 2023-2028 with the aim to cut CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030. It includes revamp of the two remaining Cargnacco furnaces. Total capacity will rise from the current 1.4 million tonnes to over 2.1mt/year when the industrial plan is completed, the spokesperson confirms.

With the Hybrid Digital Green Plant, for the first time, 12 Danieli proprietary technologies are integrated within a single production facility. ABS is implementing the full range of Danieli’s latest steelmaking innovations in one line, from scrap handling and melting through to secondary metallurgy, fume treatment, water recovery, continuous casting and full automation.

At the heart of the plant is the Digimelter, Danieli’s next-generation EAF. Fed by the so-called “endless continuous scrap charging (ECS)” system, it preheats scrap to around 400°C using residual fume heat before entering the furnace. The Q-One digital power system minimises grid disturbances, improves energy efficiency and allows direct input from renewable sources. The equipment promises a 50 kWh/t drop in electricity consumption, 20% lower graphite electrode use, 16% lower carbon intensity and a 34% reduction in complex reagents.

With no personnel on the production floor, machine learning systems control the entire plant fully automated. A closed-loop cooling system cuts water use by up to 50%, recovering over 24 MW of thermal energy. The EU-funded “Custard” project will convert combustion CO2 into sodium bicarbonate, cutting emissions by over 13,000/t, with 20 MW of residual heat feeding Udine’s district heating network.

“With the Hybrid Digital Green Plant we are continuing the journey begun over ten years ago with the design of the Saturno-QWR line,” ABS chairman and Danieli vice president Camilla Benedetti says in a note. “Thanks to this new low-carbon footprint line, we will deliver our strategy in the special steels market through two key drivers: efficiency… and the improvement of our environmental footprint.”

Danieli expects its steelmaking division results to improve significantly this year as a rise in shipments has been seen during early 2026 thanks to improved prices and margins. That enables a possible return to profitability for ABS. A growing order book is laying the foundation for potentially stronger revenues and margins in 2026/2027 compared with the current financial year, the company notes in its recent financial statement.

 

Author: Natalia Capra

kallanish.com

Mills all over Europe attempted another round of price increases, but the new prices were not widely accepted due to the slowdown of activity amid the approach of Easter holidays.

Some buyers, however, expected no negative price corrections in the near. future and preferred to book what is possible now, to minimize restocking at higher prices as much as possible.

Rebar offers in Northern Europe from both regional suppliers as well as from Southern Europe, varied within the range of €670-690 ($776-800) per tonne delivered, while workable prices were estimated at €655-665 per tonne delivered, which was reflected in Fastmarkets’ index.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, rose to €655-665 per tonne on April 1, from €640-655 per tonne on March 25.

The corresponding weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (mesh quality), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, rose to €670-680 per tonne on April 1 from €650-670 per tonne on March 25.

Market sources reported that, in the rebar sector, acceptance of higher prices was better than in the wire rod sector.

In this connection, Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Spain, rose to €715-725 per tonne on April 1, from €695-715 per tonne on March 25.

Mills attempted to raise wire rod offer prices to €710 per tonne delivered but this gained no traction among customers. Most recent sales were reported at €680 per tonne delivered.

In Italy, deal levels varied within the wide range of €650-670 per tonne delivered in the week, but some offers were already being heard at €680-690 per tonne delivered.

As a result, Fastmarkets’ price assessment for steel wire rod (mesh quality), domestic, delivered Southern Europe, remained at €650-680 per tonne delivered on April 1, unchanged week on week.

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