Trading remained muted in the European domestic HRC market on Tuesday October 13 with market participants reporting sufficient stocks and little urgency to restock, while prices were largely unchanged.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was calculated at €746.25 ($834.39) on October 13, up by €4.58 per tonne from €741.67 on October 12.
The index was up by €1.25 per tonne week on week and similarly month on month.
A seller source provided an indication of tradeable level within the range of €740-750 per tonne ex-works.
A buyer source reported an indication of tradeable level within the range of €740-760 per tonne ex-works.
A second buyer source provided an indication within the range of €740-750 per tonne ex-works.
Sources said that the market remains largely quiet with limited trading activity. They added that stocks remain high with some service centers in the region still using foreign material booked earlier at lower prices, which is preventing prices from rising as expected.
A seller source even mentioned that stocks are high enough to affect purchasing in 2027. However, market participants’ mood in general was that towards the end of 2026 prices should increase somewhat amid restocking activity and lower import volumes due to the effect of safeguard measures.
The Italian market was also said to be quiet despite limited availability of the material with few deals heard during the day made within the range of €740-750 per tonne ex-works, whereas offers were heard up to €760 per tonne ex-works.
“Stocks are still too high. We will see more demand around December I guess,” one buyer said.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Italy was calculated at €740 per tonne on October 12, down by €2.50 per tonne from €742.50 per tonne on October 9.
The index was down by €0.31 per tonne week on week but up by €9.69 per tonne month on month.
