Category: Latest Updates

ArcelorMittal’s Global Research and Development unit in Spain is developing a new system for improving the quality and value of ferrous scrap through mechanical friction processing, the company tells Kallanish.

The financing of the so-called FRICHATEAF project is part of Spain’s strategic l recovery and resilience plan (Perte), and responds to the current operational and environmental challenges of the steel industry, especially in the context of ArcelorMittal’s decarbonisation plans, the firm notes.

The project aims to transform low-quality scrap metal, whose current use is limited, into raw material suitable for the production of high-added-value steel. “FRICHATEAF will enable the on-site treatment of fragmented ferrous materials, aligning scrap recovery with electric arc furnace steel production processes and reducing dependence on iron ore,” ArcelorMittal says.

The new technology will significantly improve scrap quality, optimising the efficiency of smelting processes and reducing energy consumption, waste generation and CO₂ emissions.

The project also includes the separation and recovery of metals such as copper, aluminium, chromium and organic materials for reuse in other industrial processes.

Rebar cut-and-benders in Austria and southern Germany are hesitating to buy Italian material, because increasing transport costs make delivered prices across the Alps unattractive.

The apparent spread between rebar base prices in Italy and in northwestern Europe can be as much as €70/tonne ($82), with prices at €280-290/t in Italy and at €340-350/t in Germany. Northwestern European buyers are nevertheless still staying clear of ordering Italian. According to a Ruhr-based manager, transport to there would “easily cost €50, more likely €60”.

“Freight costs have risen significantly lately, for road trucks and for trains,” he tells Kallanish. Citing mill sources, he says that rail freight rose by 20%, and for some routes by up to 50%.

His view for the Ruhr region is shared further south, where sources confirm this trend. Austrian buyers have to calculate with delivery fees of €50, maybe more, rather than the €40 they have been used to, one source says. He points at a detail often overlooked, that Italian base prices are quoted ex-works for the domestic market, while northwestern mills quote delivered.

Austrian buyers therefore easily end up with offers of €330-340/t delivered, which makes little difference to domestic or German quotes. He also notes that Italian mill prices for northern markets differ from those offered in Italy. “They try to reach for prices they think they can achieve here. After all, Austria for them is a complementary market, targeted only if the opportunity nets more money,” he believes.

He adds that Austria’s only rebar mill, Marienhütte, may extend its winter break for the modernisation of its cooling bed (see Kallanish 7 May 2025).

French long steel transaction prices remain mostly stable compared to December as the market slowly resumes after the winter break. Activity is being dominated by uncertainty and low visibility, with end users and customers unwilling to pay increases, Kallanish notes.

Coil derivatives are meanwhile ticking up, driven by pressure on coil prices and diminished exports. Sources say they expect a €20/tonne ($23.37/t) increase in January for sheets and strips, and a steeper hike on tubes.

However, a source notes that passing increases downstream remains challenging. Italian re-rollers were reported being particularly firm in December, refusing to grant concessions. One large buyer says he rejected these terms and instead sourced tubes from other European countries. At present, before further expected increases, hot rolled sheet prices are heard at around €700/t delivered in France.

In the longs sector, no hikes have yet been formally announced, though some are expected for merchant bar. Local prices are heard at €220-230/t base delivered. Mills, particularly Spanish suppliers selling into France, are said to be considering increases of €20-30/t.

Customers remain reluctant to accept hikes amid downstream resistance and weak demand. One longs buyer says he would accept a modest €5-10/t increase compared with pre-holiday levels, but no more.

Slight upticks are also expected for beams, potentially in the region of €10/t. First-category sections in France continue to trade at around €730/t delivered on average.

In December, some orders for French rebar were concluded at largely stable prices of €580-600/t delivered and prices remain stable for the moment.

French scrap values are increasing in line with the rest of Europe as new contracts are being signed. Scrap price increases are said to be significant this month, exceeding €15/t.

Indian hot rolled and cold rolled coil export prices to Europe are marginally up on-week, supported by stable Indian domestic prices but capped by EU quota exhaustion and regulatory uncertainty, sources tell Kallanish.

The $2-5/tonne w-o-w increase reflects limited cost-driven upside rather than any improvement in demand. Market participants remain reluctant to take on new risk as they seek clarity over the European Commission’s latest CBAM announcements, tight quota availability and slow post-holiday EU activity.

Indian HRC offers are up by $2-5/t w-o-w to $570-575/t cfr Antwerp, or $510-515/t fob Mumbai, for S235 grade, February/March shipment.

Comparatively, local EU HRC prices are at €620-650/t ($723-758) cfr Italy base ex-works.

“[India’s] HRC quota is almost full,” one market participant says. Sellers add that near-full utilisation of the HRC quota is now the main constraint, limiting their ability to place further volumes.

A trader says sentiment remains cautious as participants assess the implications of CBAM. The Commission’s proposed safeguard quota overhaul could meanwhile materially curb India’s coil exports to the EU from July 2026, reinforcing buyer hesitancy in the spot market.

According to TARIC data compiled by Eurometal, HRC category 1A imports from India are fully exhausted as of 12 January, effectively removing near-term availability.

CRC activity remains limited, with offers stable w-o-w at $710-715/t cfr Antwerp, or $655-660/t fob Mumbai. Ongoing anti-dumping investigations continue to dampen buying interest, despite the CRC quota still being 86% available, with 5,100 tonnes awaiting allocation.

In the coated segment, HDGI offers are up $10-15/t on-week to $780-795/t cfr Antwerp. PPGI continues to command a premium of around $200-220/t over HDG. Plate offers are heard at $690-695/t cfr Antwerp. Freight remains stable at $60/t.

Metal-coated category 4A quota was 97% available with 800t awaiting allocation, while 4B was 99% available with 200t awaiting allocation. The organic-coated quota stood at 23%, with 100t awaiting allocation as of 12 January.

To markets outside Europe, prices remain broadly rangebound. Market participants add that Indian mills are holding back more aggressive offers into Asia and the Middle East, while gauging what volumes Europe can absorb as trading resumes post-holidays.

In Vietnam, India-origin HRC offers are heard at $487-492/t cfr Ho Chi Minh City or $475-480/t fob Mumbai, end-February shipment.

In the GCC, India-origin HRC offers are heard at $505-506/t cfr GCC ports, or $488-489/t fob Mumbai, end-February shipment.

Last week, an India-UAE HRC deal was heard concluded at $490-495/t cfr Jebel Ali, or $473-478/t fob Mumbai, for around 15,000-16,000t, end-February shipment, for 2mm+ SAE 1006 grades (see separate article).

Market participants say this booking indicates a price floor rather than signalling a broader recovery, with the absence of low-priced Indian offers helping to stabilise export levels.

Sources expect Indian coil export prices to remain broadly rangebound in the near term, with limited upside amid weak overseas demand and quota constraints.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will discuss Jindal’s potential takeover of thyssenkrupp steel with Indian authorities during his visit to the country this week, according to German media reports. Any sale of the German steelmaker to the Indian group could be done gradually in tranches.

Citing three insiders of the negotiations, Reuters reported last week that tk’s Steel division could initially transfer 60% ownership to Jindal. This intermediate step would give thyssenkrupp more time to secure the pension debts, Kallanish notes.

The German group did not provide comment on intermediate stages of the negotiations, but did reconfirm that Jindal is in the process of due diligence.

India is about to order submarines from thyssenkrupp’s Maritime Industries division, a key topic of discussion during Merz’s visit.

The chancellor previously met with representatives of tk Steel’s workforce, and called steel a “key industry” for Germany.

 

Stegra will supply significant non-prime steel tonnages to thyssenkrupp Materials Services, Kallanish learns from the Germany-based distribution group. Its business unit thyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe has signed a multi-year agreement with the Swedish greenfield steelmaker.

Due to the nature of steel production, steel mills produce a certain amount of non-prime steel. This is material that does not meet the highest quality standards that certain applications may require, but is still a strong and durable material eligible for various uses. As a result, non-prime steel makes up a relevant portion of the steel market in Europe, tk Materials explains.

“A partner for non-prime steel is important for the ramp-up of our steel mill and we see this as the start of a long-term partnership with thyssenkrupp Materials Services as a key player in the market,” says Stephan Flapper, commercial head at Stegra.

Although Stegra’s future steel plant in Boden will use only hydrogen and renewable electricity, the non-prime steel purchased by tk Materials will not be considered to be CO2-reduced, the buyer group notes.

First deliveries are expected to start in 2027. The total tonnage of the agreement will be in the high-six-digit range. “At thyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe, we have the customer base, the logistics capabilities and the processing network to handle these large amounts of steel,” says Heather Wijdekop, chief executive of the unit. It plans to supply customers in various industries across Europe.

 

Italian technology provider Danieli has reconfirmed a contract with Kurum International for a new MIDA (micromill Danieli) plant to be installed in Elbasan in Albania, marking the first greenfield MIDA installation in Europe, according to Danieli.

Startup is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027.

The project will be based on the MIDA-QLP concept for Quality Long Products, Kallanish notes from a Daniali statement. At its core are Danieli’s patented OctoCaster and an innovative mill layout designed for endless casting and rolling.

The new facility will have an annual capacity exceeding 700,000 tonnes of deformed bars and compact coils. Danieli’s scope of supply includes a meltshop with a 75-tonne electric arc furnace equipped with the ECS continuous scrap-charging system, a 75-tonne ladle furnace, material-handling systems and a fume treatment plant.

Casting will be carried out via a 12-metre-radius continuous casting machine with an octagonal mould, enabling stable endless casting at speeds above 7 m/min. The rolling mill will comprise housingless stands and a high-speed finishing block, producing straight bars from 10-32mm and spooled coils from 8-25 mm, with customised coil weights of up to 5 tonnes.

According to Danieli, MIDA-QLP enables true “green” steel production while delivering the lowest achievable transformation costs from scrap to finished long products, supporting highly sustainable operations.

In December, media reports mentioned a roughly €150 million ($175.27m) investment by Kurum International for the Elbasan plant.

Micromill Danieli or MIDA is Danieli’s patented, scrap-based steelmaking concept for long products, using a compact endless casting and rolling process to cut capital expenditure, energy use and CO₂ emissions. The concept has scaled to capacities of 700,000 t/year or more, enabling its first greenfield adoption in Europe as decarbonisation and cost pressures intensify.

Danieli says it has supplied or is executing 29 MIDA plants worldwide, across the US, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

 

Italian heavy plate contract prices are expected to continue rising, driven by higher slab procurement costs linked to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Kallanish learns.

Market activity is gradually resuming after the Christmas break, with mills describing both sales performance and price levels as satisfactory. Lead times are now extending into late February, while import offers are not currently disrupting the domestic market.

Mill sources say further price increases are being considered this month due to uncertainty over CBAM-related slab costs, which remain difficult to quantify. Asian suppliers are currently unable to declare actual emissions values, as the European Union has yet to publish the list of accredited verifiers. As a result, all suppliers are declaring default values, leaving mills to estimate the effective CBAM burden.

“We are working blindly,” one mill source says. “For now, we are treating all suppliers as default-value producers and adjusting prices in the hope that increases will cover total slab costs, including CBAM. We will only know next year whether we worked well or not.”

Interest is emerging in Brazilian slab, whose CBAM costs are expected to be relatively low, at around €20-30/tonne ($23.37-35.06/t). However, Brazil has limited slab production capacity. The Tubarão plant, part of the ArcelorMittal group, will be expected to ship its slab supply internally.

Moreover, sources warn that slab producers incurring lower CBAM costs are likely to raise prices significantly. This will leave European plate re-rollers in a difficult position as they pass on cost increases without certainty over downstream consumption and whether customers will absorb those increases.

“There will be little or no slab allocation from Brazil,” another source says, adding that if suppliers do not certify actual values, responsibility for CBAM cost falls entirely on the buyer. Based on the latest EU documentation, CBAM costs for Chinese slab are estimated at around €160/t, while Indian material could face charges of around €300/t or slightly less. Indonesian CBAM costs will be entirely prohibitive.

Italian mills are currently quoting and achieving €700/t for S235 plate, with premiums of €30-35/t for S355 and about €10-15/t for S275. Their idea is to push S235 to the level of €750/t base ex-works this month and reach February with quotes starting with an 8.

Imported slab into Italy is currently assessed at about $500/t cfr, market participants note.

 

European hot-rolled coil prices held steady on Tuesday January 13, despite quiet trading, with positive sentiment in the domestic market largely being driven by regulatory updates limiting imports, sources told Fastmarkets.

The European steel markets are still restarting after the winter holiday break, with buyers in no rush to restock, Fastmarkets understands.

“Trading remains thin,” a mill source said. “Buyers rushed their bookings in the fourth quarter ahead of [the implementation of the] Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and booked more than usual, so there is now no immediate need to restock.

“But we will see restoking for second-quarter tonnages at the end of January-start of February,” the mill source added.

In terms of hot-rolled coil, the mills were said to be largely sold out for February delivery, with only minor tonnages left at some suppliers. Prices for these tonnages were hovering around €630-640 ($735-747) per tonne ex-works.

For March-April delivery, mills were aiming to get prices closer to €650-670 per tonne ex-works, source said.. And some suppliers were even suggesting higher price ideas for second-quarter deliveries – “testing the waters” at around €680-700 per tonne ex-works, according to one market participant.

Buyers, however, said that such levels remained just “wishful thinking,” given the still-slow end-user demand.

“We can realistically speak about €650 being widely achieved soon, but going any higher will be complicated because it’s hard to pass on [any] increase in prices to the downstream market,” a source at a steel service center in Germany told Fastmarkets.

Another source said there had been a transaction for a small tonnage of March delivery HRC in Germany at €650 per tonne ex-works on Tuesday.

But most buyer sources still put the workable level at €630-640 per tonne ex-works.

Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was €638.33 per tonne on January 13, up by just €2.70 per tonne from €635.63 per tonne on January 12.

The index was up by €8.33 per tonne week on week and by €16.66 per tonne month on month.

In Southern Europe, Fastmarkets’ corresponding daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Italy, was calculated at €629.27 per tonne on Tuesday, up by €1.77 per tonne from €627.50 per tonne on Monday.

The index was up by €6.15 per tonne week on week and by €18.02 per tonne month on month.

Trading in the Italian market also remained slow, however, with only minor tonnages booked. according to sources.

Offers for March delivery HRC were heard at around €630–650 per tonne ex-works, depending on the supplier. Some producers still had some February tonnages left, sources said.

And buyers estimated the tradable price for HRC in Italy at around €620–640 per tonne ex-works on Tuesday.

But very few new import offers have been reported since the implementation of CBAM regulations, sources said.

“There are some import tonnages in ports and on the way to Europe, but there are very few new offers,” a buyer in Italy said.

“CBAM has brought a lot of confusion to the market,” the buyer added.

HRC from Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, was of offer to Europe at €530 per tonne CFR, excluding CBAM costs, sources said, and with default emissions values not outlined for steel products for Saudi Arabia, they therefore fall under the default values for “other countries and territories.”

CBAM costs for HRC from this origin will therefore exceed €200 per tonne, unless actual emissions data can be verified.

CBAM implementation was expected to increase import prices on flat steel by perhaps €35-600 per tonne, depending on the country of origin, assuming the use of default emissions values to calculate the CBAM charge.

I addition, steel safeguard quotas for HRC were fully used up by some suppliers less than two weeks into the new reporting period.