Italian sections market reaches standoff

After Italian sections producers increased their prices by €100/tonne ($111/t) in January, sales activity became sluggish due to uncertainty involving all long finished products in Italy, Kallanish hears.

The largest sections mill in the market is quoting at €670-680/t for the first category of beams. Prices increase by €20/t for each subsequent category. Contract prices at the moment are also at €670-675/t base ex-works but agents lament small volumes sales in January while buyers doubt that these levels can be sustainable in February.

Including €380-390/t average size extras, contract prices for the first category of sections are hovering at €1,050-1,070/t ex-works, depending on volumes, sources suggest.

Meanwhile, merchant bar prices remain stable compared to last week at €510-520/t base ex-works. Including size extras, values stand at €930-940/t ex-works.

Natalia Capra France