Steel producers in Europe were slowly pushing ahead with higher prices for steel hot-rolled coil to local customers, Fastmarkets learned on Tuesday August 5.
Sell-side sources were using the uncertainty about the future of imported material ahead of the introduction of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), as well as a possible tightening of safeguard measures, as an opportunity to raise sale prices.
Market sources reported that HRC cargoes scheduled for delivery in October were changing hands in Northern Europe at €560-570 ($648-660) per tonne ex-works, with official offers largely varying within the range of €580-590 per tonne delivered or ex-works.
And although these higher prices have not been fully accepted, several sources said that, for the fourth quarter of 2025, integrated mills in the region would be looking to achieve €600-610 per tonne ex-works.
At the same time, a supplier in the Benelux region was said to be still offering material at €560 per tonne delivered, €550 per tonne ex-works.
There was information circulating in the market about some volumes of material from integrated mills with earlier delivery in August or September, available at €540 per tonne ex-works.
That said, buyer sources estimated the current workable prices in the wide range of €540-570 per tonne ex-works.
As a result, Fastmarkets’ calculation of the daily steel HRC index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was €560.18 ($648.67) on August 5, up by €0.18 from August 4.
The Northern European index was up by €1.85 per tonne week on week and by €10.18 per tonne month on month.
Market sources noted that sellers in Italy also managed to increase transactions prices to €530-540 per tonne ex-works, and in some cases up to €550 per tonne ex-works, while offers varied within the range of €550-550 per tonne ex-works.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Italy, was calculated at €535.00 per tonne on Tuesday, up by €7.50 per day on day.
The index was also up by €6.87 per tonne week on week and up by €5.00 per tonne month on month.
