Italian coil activity slows, prices decline slightly

The Italian cold rolled and hot-dipped galvanised coil markets are becoming quiet, with demand slow. However, export volumes are more encouraging, Kallanish notes.

Despite the shortage of material caused by reduced production at Acciaierie d’Italia, ArcelorMittal in France and Spain, and Tata Steel in the Netherlands, domestic buyers seem to be on the fence. Prices are beginning to drop by some €10/tonne ($10.9) compared to the peaks seen at the start of April for both products.

In Italy, HDG and CRC producers are asking for between €950-980/t base delivered, depending on producer. Sources indicate contract prices at €940-950/t base delivered for CRC and €950-970/t for HDG. Meanwhile, hot rolled coil prices are also weakening slightly, by €10/t, and hovering at €840-850/t base delivered, with demand quiet, sources suggest.

Import offers and purchases are substantially lower than domestic prices, with the gap between European and imported material widening. Imported CRC is offered at about €150/t lower than Italian material, but very few HDG import offers are reported. HRC purchases from Asia for large volumes are hovering at $745-770/t cfr Italy.

Natalia Capra France