“Demand is not great. Overall consumption leaves much to be desired while customers are working through their stocks [created earlier with domestic and import material],” one trader from Northern Europe told Fastmarkets.
Still, domestic prices remained firm “as customers finally recognize the effect of the mix of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the forthcoming change of safeguard in the second half of 2026,” the trader said.
HRC offers in the German and Benelux markets were heard at €680-685 ($807.32-813.25) per tonne ex-works, while tradeable levels were estimated within €650-660 per tonne ex-works.
No major sales were heard during the day.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel HRC index, domestic, exw Northern Europe was €655.83 per tonne on Friday, up by €0.83 per tonne from €655.00 per tonne on Thursday February 12.
The index was down by €0.42 per tonne week on week and by €17.50 per tonne month on month.
The Italian market was somewhat livelier, with a large cargo heard sold within €630-640 per tonne ex-works.
Estimates of workable prices for standard tonnages of 1,000-3,000 tonnes were reported at €650 per tonne ex-works, compared with offers at €660-685 per tonne ex-works from integrated suppliers and re-rollers.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel HRC index, domestic, exw Italy was calculated at €647.50 per tonne on Thursday, down by €3.50 per tonne from €651.00 per tonne on Thursday.
The index was down by €0.42 per tonne week on week and up by €18.23 per tonne month on month.
