Steel beam prices in Europe fall on weak consumption, market cautious
Fastmarkets’ monthly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was €730-760 ($865-900) per tonne on Wednesday, falling by €20 per tonne from €750-780 per tonne a month earlier.
Similarly, Fastmarkets’ monthly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Southern Europe, was €730-760 per tonne on Wednesday, down by €20 per tonne month on month from €750-780 per tonne.
Producers have been targeting higher market prices, trade sources said, but there was scepticism around the achievability of higher offers amid such weak demand.
Poor end-user consumption in the region’s construction sector has continued to weigh on appetite for bookings, and regulatory uncertainty was contributing to a cautious market mood, sources told Fastmarkets.
And, according to European steel industry association Eurofer, the outlook will remain bleak, with apparent demand expected to decline by 0.2% to 128 million tonnes this year.
Still, the association’s forecast was a little less pessimistic than previous expectations of a 0.9% decline in apparent consumption, voiced in June.
While Eurofer forecast a modest output increase in construction activity this year overall, significant growth in that sector was projected to return only in 2026.
Meanwhile, scrap prices in Turkey’s bellwether market fell in the month.
Fastmarkets’ calculation of its daily index for steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), North Europe origin, cfr Turkey, was $329.10 per tonne on Wednesday, down by $11.56 per tonne compared with $340.66 per tonne on August 15.
European steel beam prices flat amid slow Christmas season, disruption on Moselle river
Fastmarkets’ monthly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe was €780-790 ($816- 827) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged from November 20.
Similarly, Fastmarkets’ monthly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Southern Europe was €780-790 per tonne on Wednesday, also flat month on month.
Sources told Fastmarkets that mills were offering material at prices €20 per tonne higher, but said the raised levels were not workable, with trade slowing ahead of the Christmas holiday period in already negative demand conditions.
Prices were also stable despite the disruption to logistics in Germany caused by a crash at the Müden lock on the Moselle river on December 8, which blocked the passage of 74 ships on their way to the river Rhine – one of Europe’s key routes for metals shipments including aluminium and steel.
As of Wednesday, 18 ships had left the lock heading in the direction of the Rhine, with the emergency, temporary closure of the lock chamber made possible using nine welded steel beams, according to Germany’s Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV).
With permanent repairs expected to last until Spring, sources said the incident could have a big impact on the delivery of materials, because the alternative road or rail transport options are far more expensive.
Overall, while the cost of steel scrap in Turkey’s bellwether market has fallen so far in December, sources said, prices climbed by 1.25% day-on-day on Wednesday due to the current supply and logistics challenges in Europe and increased demand from Turkish mills for January cargoes.
Fastmarkets’ calculation of its daily index for steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix) North Europe origin, cfr Turkey was $348.12 per tonne on Wednesday, down $3.91 per tonne month on month from $352.03 per tonne.
French longs prices rise slightly
Long steel prices in France are experiencing slight increases or remaining flat, depending on each segment, with activity still subdued, as reported by various distributors and buyers. There is however a slight increase in apparent demand for rebar and beams, due to the Olympic Games in the Paris area and a technical restocking, Kallanish notes.
Prices have been raised this month by both Spanish and local longs producers, which is reflected in contracts. The increases in prices, on average €10/tonne ($10.8), are relatively moderate, sources point out. Stockists are making some purchases ahead of the August mill stoppages, while the distribution sector remains cautious in its buying approach. According to two sources, construction volumes continue to be low, with no sign of improvement.
The average delivered value for domestic rebar stands at €625/t this month. Merchant bar prices are experiencing slight increases in deals compared to last month, with prices at around €660-670/t delivered.
Sections are seeing renewed apparent demand, which is bolstering prices. Producers have successfully boosted values by approximately €20/t since the start of June. The estimated range for the first category of sections is around €760-770/t delivered.
Spanish producers have contributed to the price hikes in beams and merchant bar by also increasing their offers in France. According to reports, their willingness to compromise on prices has faded compared to recent months.
With the production disruption at Liberty Ostrava, sales opportunities in Europe have opened up for mills in the region. One producer confirms his longs order book has been satisfactorily filled.
The French construction crisis is continuing, as reported by national construction federation Fédération Française du Bâtiment (FFB). By the end of April, year-on-year, new building permits and new residential construction fell by 10.2% and 10%, respectively. In the first quarter, there was a significant decline in sales within the private property sector, with a drop of 29.9%. Similarly, sales of private properties experienced a sharp decline of 25.9% compared to the previous year.
Natalia Capra France
