Posted on 17 Aug 2018
Italian merchant bar transaction prices are stable compared to the last week of July and prices have not increased as have other long products in Italy. The market is now in repose due to the August holiday break but in July also sales activity was “… difficult” with low volumes and stable prices, market sources tell Kallanish.
Demand for merchant bar is forecast to remain patchy when activity resumes in September as competition from other European mills selling in Italy remains very high, with no change from July. Prices however may rise as September is forecast to bring more increases for both long products and scrap, sources believe. “I think producers will ask for increases - whether buyers will pay them is another matter,” a source comments.
Transactions remain at €140/tonne ($159.1/t) base ex-works. This sets average transaction prices at €550/t ex-works, on average.
Meanwhile, prices for the first category of beams are also stable compared to July at €210-220/t base ex-works on average, or €600/t ex-works including size extras. Prices increase by €20/t for each subsequent category, sources suggest.
