European producers’ stainless steel long products prices could see a boost in 2026, given import restrictions and extra fees caused by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), German distributor Damstahl believes.
The new trade regime projected to take effect from 1 July will see an increase in duty on Asian-origin imports above the quota from 25% to 50%. “This announcement has already caused European importers to turn more to domestic producers, which towards the end of 2025 reported higher order intake and longer lead times,” Damstahl writes in its latest market report.
Under pressure from Asian-origin imported material, European special bar qualities (SBQ) saw a long period of prices at a low level, with little change throughout 2025, Damstahl’s authors write. They expect European mills to push prices up in the second quarter at the latest, and note that some increase has already occurred. For imported material, the firm expects a price increase by 15-20%.
An additional factor possibly causing a shortage for certain bar products this year is that European mills need to ramp up production to meet the redirected demand. This will need a longer period, which Damstahl expects to take 6-8 months, following several years of reduced utilisation.
“The ramp up of the European mills has been assumed in this range since they have reduced their capacities throughout the last two years significantly,” the authors explain to Kallanish.
