Italian crude steel production in September declined 8.4% on the year to 1.8 million mt, according to data released by Italian steel federation Federacciai Oct. 17.
The lower production was attributed to a decrease from Acciaierie d’Italia, the country’s second-largest steel producer, and weak demand due to economic turmoil in the region.
ADI recently restarted its 2 million mt/year BF1 unit as planned, increasing production with a target of 1.9 million-2 million mt of crude steel by the end of 2024.
Italian domestic mill production fell 5.6% year on year to 15.1 million mt in the first nine months of 2024.
Long products fell 5.4% to 1.1 million mt and flat products declined 9.1% to 755,000 mt in September. ADI’s largest decline in output was for flat steel products.
In January-September, long production rose 0.5% to 8.8 million mt and flat production dropped 10.3% to 6.4 million mt.
In 2023, the Italian steel industry produced 21.1 million mt of steel, a reduction of 2.5% on the year.
Antonio Gozzi, the head of Federacciai, previously told S&P Global Commodity Insights he expects 2024 production will be slightly less than in 2023.
Platts, part of Commodity Insights, assessed HRC Italy at Eur535/mt ex-works Sept. 30, down from Eur590/mt Sept. 2. Platts assessed HRC Italy at Eur550/mt ex-works Oct. 16, up Eur5/mt on the day.
