Steel prices kept going up in Europe, generally for all products except HDG that is apparently breathing after the rally of November.
The main reasons behind this positive trend are following:
1. Production is till at low levels with mills running 70% to 80% of actual capacity.
2. Stocks are generally quite low as all customers maintained a very conservative attitude, avoiding any kind of speculative purchases and concentrating only in standard, secured business.
3. Many customers, for fiscal reasons, have decided to concentrate purchase at the end of the year
However, as previously and repeatedly underlined, the overall consumption and demand is remaining very weak and sluggish, without any sign of a significant recovery exception made for some timid improvements in Italy, Germany and France.
On the other hand, Dubai default and the extremely heavy situation of Greece are shading clouds on the future. Inflation rate is remaining low and thus ECB has recently declared that interest rates will remain during the medium period still at present low levels. However in some EU areas the consequence of the crisis still has to deploy all its effects as it's witnessed, among others, by the decision of Tenaris Dalmine to quit thousand of workers as well as by similar situations around EU.
Prices of long products are similarly going up as merchant bars and de bars have reached a new basis of about EUR 130 per tonne in Italy and about EUR 150 per tonne DDU in Germany.
1. Plates - South Europe recovring
HRP
S 235 / S275JR
5-20x2000
| Country | Domestic | Import |
| Germany | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 5 | 5 |
| Italy | 0 | 5 |
Change is on December 11th as compared to December 4th 2009
In EUR per tonne
2. Hot Rolled Coils - Surge continue
HRC
S235JR
2-12x1000-1500
| Country | Domestic | Import |
| Germany | 0 | 5 |
| Spain | 10 | 5 |
| Italy | 10 | 0 |
Change is on December 11th as compared to December 4th 2009
In EUR per tonne
3. Cold Rolled coils - In tandem with hot band
CRC
DC 01
0.60 Avx1250
| Country | Domestic | Import |
| Germany | 10 | 10 |
| Spain | 10 | 5 |
| Italy | 0 | 10 |
Change is on December 11th as compared to December 4th 2009
In EUR per tonne
4. Hot Dipped Galvanized - Lagging behind
HDG
DX 51 D / Z100-120 / AS
0.55 - 0.57x AW
| Country | Domestic | Import |
| Germany | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 0 | 0 |
| Italy | 0 | 5 |
Change is on December 11th as compared to December 4th 2009
In EUR per tonne
5. CFR Antwerp- Recovery continues
| Product | Grade | Thick mm | Change |
| HRP | S235JR | 10-60x2500 | 0 |
| HRP | S355J2+N | 10-60x2500 | 5 |
| HRC | S235JR | 2-12x1250 | 0 |
| CRC | DC 01 | 0.60 Avx1250 | 10 |
| HDG | DX 51 D/Z 180/NA-C | 0.60 Avx1250 | 0 |
Change is on December 11th as compared to December 4th 2009
In EUR per tonne
All prices are net to the final customer with following payment terms
A. Italy & Spain
1. Domestic prices are EXW or DDP with payment 90 days from delivery
2. Import prices are CIF FO with LC at 90 days from B/L date
B. Germany
1. Domestic prices are EXW or DDP with payment on the 15th of the following month
2. Import prices are CFR FO with open term payment at 30 days from date of arrival
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(Sourced from www.steelprices-europe.com)
