Italian heavy plate prices inched up in the week to 25 September, and the country’s re-rollers are seeking further increases due to rising costs.
Deals for s235jr/s275jr-grade heavy plate in Italy have been settled around EUR750/t ex-works. Steelmakers were aiming for prices closer to EUR800/t ex-works in their offers. Prices, however, are unlikely to see a recovery in the short term, and an increase is expected in deals for material produced in the first quarter.
“In general, demand is not getting better and price increases require time, but the recovery is needed because energy, fuel and logistics costs are getting higher,” an Italian trader said.
Offers for imported slab, the main feedstock for European re-rollers, have also increased, adding pressure to increase plate prices.
Offers of slab from China and Vietnam have been heard at $590-595/t CIF Italy, with some deals for Chinese material reported at $585/t CIF Italy.
Turkish steelmakers have pushed slab offers higher due to rising ferrous scrap prices, reaching $630/t CIF Italy.
Limited volumes of slab from European integrated mills have been heard at EUR650/t ex-works Germany.
Slab availability increased in July-August as exporters shifted their focus towards semi-finished steel sales to Europe after the new quota system restricted access to finished steel in the EU. However, more European buyers are considering substituting hot-rolled coil (HRC) imports with slab in order to roll the material within the EU, since the latter is not subject to quotas.
German mills had limited heavy plate volumes to offer on the spot market and kept prices stable at EUR850/t ex-works.
| Weekly European heavy plate, slab and green steel | |||||
| Unit | Term | 25-Sep-26 | Change | ||
| Weekly heavy plate | |||||
| Northwest Europe ex-works heavy plate | EUR/t | EX-WORKS | 850.00 | 0.00 | |
| Germany delivered heavy plate (Northwest Europe) | EUR/t | DEL | 870.00 | 0.00 | |
| Italy ex-works heavy plate | EUR/t | EX-WORKS | 750.00 | 5.00 | |
| Weekly steel slab | |||||
| Italy CFR slab | $/t | CFR | 585.00 | 5.00 | |
| Weekly green steel | |||||
| Green heavy plate premium (scopes 1-3 CO2 under 1t) | EUR/t | 25.00 | 0.00 | ||
Author: Maria Tanatar
