European steel heavy plate prices remained mostly stable in the week to Thursday September 4, with sources noting continued sluggish trade after the end of the summer-slow period.
And imported material was heard offered for January delivery with a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) premium applied. Interest in such offers, and possible deals, suggest some importers are potentially willing to take on the risk of regulatory uncertainty around CBAM — and its related costs — to lock in import tonnages.
Italy
Italian commodity-grade heavy plate prices were flat over the pricing period, with sources noting a lack of buying appetite.
“There is still not enough demand strength to move prices up. We are looking at the gradual reopening of the market [after summer’s end],” a producer said.
However, a few market participants were bullish in their market assessments despite muted trading.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Southern Europe was €590-620 ($686-721) per tonne on Thursday, unchanged week on week.
Northern Europe
Prices for plate in Northern Europe’s domestic market widened downward slightly amid “very sluggish trade”.
And there was some market chatter around an expected pickup in trading toward the end of the month.
“What we are hearing from our sources and clients across Europe, and in particular Poland, Germany and Scandinavia, is that a purchase wave is expected within two to two and a half weeks’ time,” a second producer said.
Offer levels from mills in Germany were reported at a wide range, from €620-710 per tonne, but a trader source noted that mills offering at higher levels were rarely booking at such prices.
A few sources expressed a bullish price outlook, with one trader suggesting that domestic plate prices could rise in the coming months due to increased regulatory uncertainty and therefore greater risk for imported plate purchases, with new trade measures set to replace safeguards and the implementation of CBAM implementation in January 2026.
However, uncertainty around CBAM’s implementation continues to linger in the market, with rumors swirling around a possible postponement — despite no official confirmation of any changes to the mechanism’s implementation date.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Northern Europe was €620-670 per tonne on Thursday, widening downward by €10 per tonne from €630-670 per tonne a week earlier.
Imports
While heavy plate import prices have remained unchanged since June due to a lack of buying interest, high import stock levels and general weak demand, higher offers and possible deals were reported at €645 per tonne CIF Antwerp for January delivery.
This price includes an in-built CBAM premium, the inclusion of which is a recent occurrence in steel flat markets.
The price point was not included in Fastmarkets’ latest price assessment for northern European plate imports, as it exceeds the timing specification of 8-10 weeks.
Fastmarkets weekly price assessment for steel plate (8-40mm) import, cfr main port Northern Europe was €595-630 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged since June 4.
Fastmarkets weekly price assessment for steel plate (8-40mm) import, cfr main port Southern Europe was €585-600 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged since June 12.
The second producer said there will be more clarity on CBAM by the end of September or early October, but they estimate that the fee to be applied could cost around €30-35 per tonne.
