This followed earlier increases driven by rising production costs for re-rollers.
Southern Europe
A producer reported local sales of plate in Italy at €760-770 ($875-886) per tonne ex-works, while most offers in the market were heard at €800 per tonne ex-works. These levels were broadly unchanged from offers of €750-800 per tonne ex-works reported a week earlier.
One trader reported lower prices of €720-750 per tonne ex-works on Monday. But according to the latest market trends, rising production costs for re-rollers, including higher natural gas costs and slab feedstock prices, have pushed workable plate prices up to around €750-760 per tonne across much of Europe.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel slab, import, cif Italy, was $550-580 per tonne on Thursday, widening upward by $20 per tonne from $550-560 per tonne a week earlier.
On March 19, Fastmarkets heard that some re-rollers could face production stoppages. When asked about this, a producer said that, in a worst-case scenario, some extended stoppages could occur in July-August, although this was not certain.
During the second quarter of 2026, mills will continue to use slab purchased at relatively low prices, the producer said, and the recent jump in slab prices was expected to be felt in the third quarter of the year. Supply shortages could also become an issue, particularly if the conflict involving Iran persists, the source said, because the country was a major exporter of slab to the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
In addition, the upcoming reduction in EU import quotas for steel products could affect trade flows [LINK], market sources said, potentially lowering the volume of finished flat steel products imports from July onward.
But a second trader said that as long as energy remains available, production will continue, noting that most mills purchase energy through a mix of yearly, quarterly and floating contracts, which reduces the risk of production disruptions.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Southern Europe, was €750-770 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged week-on-week.
No new prices were heard for plate imports in Southern Europe during the week while market activity remained muted.
Japan was offering S235-grade material at €680 per tonne CFR to both Northern and Southern Europe on March 19, but no recent trading has been reported.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel plate (8-40mm), import, cfr main port Southern Europe, was €650-664 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged week on week.
Northern Europe
Prices for domestic plate in Northern Europe also remained stable during the week. The first trader reported an offer at €720-750 per tonne ex-works, adding that workable prices could vary by €15-20 per tonne. No significant new deals were heard.
Offers were reported at €800-830 per tonne ex-works on March 19, when a deal was also heard at €750-770 per tonne ex-works in Germany. Market sources said at the time that re-rollers in the country reacted to the rising production costs by raising their prices for plate.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Northern Europe, was €750-770 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged week-on-week.
The plate imports market in Northern Europe also remained quiet during the week. Import options were limited and costly on March 19, when Indian mills offered plate at €637-645 per tonne CFR Antwerp for June shipment.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel plate (8-40mm), import, cfr main port Northern Europe, was €637-650 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged week on week.
