European heavy plate round-up: European heavy plate trades sideways as holidays begin

European heavy plate prices held largely stable in the week to 31 July as the market started its summer slowdown.

Spot demand was said to be weak across the European market, but mill orderbooks remain tight due to lesser import accessibility following the entry into force of the EU’s intensified tariff-rate quota (TRQ) regime at the start of July.

In Northwest Europe, price indications for s235jr commodity grade were reported on a wide range centering around EUR820/t ex-works Germany, while in Italy heavy plate was available at EUR690-700/t ex-works, though some indications, especially for project-based demand, were reported higher at EUR710-750/t ex-works. Overall, market participants anticipate increased prices once trading returns substantively after the summer, with a quiet few weeks in the interim.

German sources report very limited volumes available for fresh September production, both due to purchasing ahead of expected offer price increases post-holidays, as well as a 250,000 t booking for a US-based project, resulting in strong purchases from German mills for delivery later this year. As a result, only one German mill was said to have general spot volumes remaining – potentially for the rest of 2026 – with allocations otherwise restricted to special or affiliated customers.

Input slab costs for re-rollers – particularly dominant in Italy – were reported in a range of $560-580/t CIF, clustering toward the lower end of said range. Larger buyers expected to secure deals at a slight discount of around $550/t CIF, and have reported renewed aggression from foreign producers in the semi-finished steel segment now that the EU’s duty-free volumes have been tightened for their traditional finished steel exports.

Author: Benjamin Steven and Maria Tanatar

opisnet.com