Prices for hot-rolled coils in Italy have increased slightly due to the lack of cheaper imports, Fastmarkets sources said on Wednesday, October 21. In Northern Europe, the market was mostly quiet, with many participants attending an industry trade show.
According to sources, imported metal has ceased to play a significant role in the negotiations on roll prices in Italy.
"Obviously, imported materials cannot be bought significantly cheaper than domestic ones," a manufacturer's representative said on Wednesday.
According to him, reasonable prices for local hot-rolled coils were €730-750 per ton on a free-of-charge basis. The upper limit of the range reflected very low activity, while the source called €730 per ton a more realistic level.
The manufacturer's representative added that it is more difficult to achieve higher prices for orders delivered in December, as "many customers are reducing the volume of confirmed shipments due to the closure of the fiscal year."
A source on the buyer's side said on Wednesday that the prices announced on the market were €740-750 per tonne free-of-charge. This corresponded to the estimates that the sources had given the day before.
At the same time, according to the same buyer, real deals on hot-rolled coils could cost €730-740 per ton with delivery. After deducting shipping costs of €15-20 per ton, this corresponds to €710-725 per ton free of charge.
These levels were not included in the final index calculation due to the lack of confirmation from other sources and detailed information about transactions.
As a result, the Fastmarkets daily index for hot-rolled coils for the Italian domestic market on a free-to-factory basis on October 21 amounted to €742.5 per ton. During the day, it rose by €1.67 from €740.83 per tonne on October 20.
During the week, the index decreased by €2.50 per ton, and during the month it increased by €8.75.
While Acciaierie d'Italia and Ilva were challenging the Milan court's order to stop the hot conversion at the Taranto steel plant, the Italian government issued Decree Law No. 185/2026 on Friday, October 16. He allowed the hot appliance to be kept in a heated state in order to avoid potentially irreversible damage to the equipment during cooling.
This measure by itself does not permit conventional steel production and is intended only to preserve equipment. It is valid until the publication of the reasons for the court decision, but no later than December 15, 2026.
According to the official parliamentary dossier dated October 20, the court has not yet ruled on the appeal. Until then, the manufacturer must continue to control emissions into the atmosphere, according to the decree-law of the Italian government.
Northern Europe
Trading activity in Northern Europe was very low on Wednesday, with many participants
