Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium) domestic, delivered Northern Europe was €800-860 ($870- 935) per tonne on Wednesday, widening up by €10 per tonne from €800-850 per tonne a week earlier.
Similarly, Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium) domestic, delivered Southern Europe was €800-860 per tonne on Wednesday, up by €10 per tonne at the top end of the range, from €800-850 per tonne on January 10.
Sources said there had been no fundamental changes to the market since the start of the year, with consumption from the construction sector still weak.
But one trader from Northern Europe said increased trading activity was expected in January, compared with the slower period of trade seen in December.
“The price increase should be workable,” the trader said.
Sections prices in Poland also increased by €10 per tonne, with offers heard at €780 per tonne CPT, on a theoretical-weight basis, a producer source in southeast Europe said.
In Romania, meanwhile, offer prices were stable over the past seven days, at €740 per tonne cpt levels, on a theoretical-weight basis, the producer source said.
“[Hollow sections] prices are rising due to hot-rolled coil price growth,” the source added. “And there is some demand for tubes.”
Fastmarkets’ daily calculation of its steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Northern Europe was €735.63 per tonne on Wednesday, up by €6.88 per tonne from €728.75 per tonne a week earlier, and up by €42.50 per tonne month on month.
HRC feedstock price rises have been driven by limited supplies, but end-user demand remains weak.
Published by: Holly Chant
