Domestic prices in the European steel heavy plate market were mostly stable in the week to Thursday April 16, while imports into Germany saw a slight increase, sources told Fastmarkets.
Steel plate prices had previously been increasing after energy and slab costs increased following the US/Israel attacks on Iran on February 28 and its wide-ranging response across the region, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Southern Europe
Deals for Italian plate were heard in the week to Thursday at €750-780 ($876-911) per tonne ex-works, unchanged from orders a week earlier, with the lower end of the range applicable to larger volumes, while the higher end was linked to smaller lots, sources said.
One trader said that offers in Italy had reached €800-830 per tonne ex-works during the week, up from €800 per tonne ex-works, due to rising production costs, but no deals were reported.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Southern Europe, was €750-780 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from April 9.
On April 9, market participants reported only moderate demand for plate in Italy, while expecting higher cost pressures on re-rollers because of rising slab feedstock costs and tight slab supplies.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel slab, import, cif Italy, was $600-620 per tonne on Thursday, up from $590-620 per tonne a week earlier.
The steel plate import market was moving slowly, meanwhile, with one producer putting the workable level from Asia to Spain at €700-750 per tonne CFR, unchanged week on week.
Larger import deals in Italy were heard at €790-800 per tonne DDP from India, Japan and South Korea, sources said, but these were not included in Fastmarkets assessment, which only covers CFR prices.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel plate (8-40mm), import, cfr main port Southern Europe, was €664-700 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from April 9.
Northern Europe
In Germany’s domestic market, steel plate was on offer at €800-830 per tonne ex-works in the week to Thursday, unchanged from previous levels, but no fresh trade were reported in a quiet market.
One trader reported an offer at €830-840 per tonne DAP Ruhr for S235 grade plate, but this was not included in the assessment, which is for ex-works material.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate 8-40mm, exw Northern Europe, was €800-830 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from April 9.
Plate imports into Germany were reported at €700-750 per tonne CFR for Asia-origin cargoes, while plate from Indonesia on offer at €725 per tonne CFR Antwerp.
DDP offers to Antwerp were heard at €790-800 per tonne from India, Japan and South Korea, but were not included in Fastmarkets’ CFR basis assessment.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel plate (8-40mm), import, cfr main port Northern Europe, was €700-725 per tonne on Thursday, up from €650-700 per tonne a week earlier.
