Steel heavy plate prices in Northern Europe moved up in the week to Thursday January 22 amid Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) cost support, while the Italian market remained unchanged but bullish.
Northern Europe
Plate prices in Northern Europe’s domestic market moved up in the latest pricing period amid higher offers, with support from a lack of import competition and uncertainty linked to the EU’s CBAM definitive regime, which came into force on January 1, while rising slab feedstock costs added further upward pressure.
“Reduced import volumes, driven by uncertainty around CBAM and safeguard measures, have prompted more buyers to rely on domestic supply,” said one buyer source.
They added that upward movement in the domestic market has been supported by these conditions.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Northern Europe was €720-750 ($846-881) per tonne on Thursday, rising by €20-50 per tonne from €700 per tonne a week earlier.
Offers for S235 plate were made at €720-770 per tonne during the week.
An import offer for S355 material was reported at €710 per tonne CIF Antwerp, including CBAM costs.
Plate market participants expressed further concerns around CBAM, with “complete insecurity around real imported slab [feedstock] costs”, especially regarding high default values given if actual emissions data cannot be verified.
And one plate trader said there remain big questions around which certification bodies would be verifying actual emissions data.
They added that many producers had stocked up on feedstock before the end of 2025 due to uncertainty around CBAM but added that restocking will be necessary in the near future.
Though some slab deals were heard at $520 per tonne in Italy’s slab import market during the week.
Italy
In Italy’s heavy steel spot market prices were flat, however the sentiment remained bullish amid fresh deals and lengthening lead times.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Southern Europe was €700-720 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged week on week.
Material was also heard sold at €750 per tonne, but for project-based work, which is often longer-term or involves special grades.
And offers were reported at €700-750 per tonne for S275 plate.
Indonesian S275 plate imports were offered at €670-680 per tonne DDP Italy during the week.
