![European heavy plate market stagnates on low prices](https://media.kallanish.com/filer_public/e4/f0/e4f0ee9f-b8a9-470f-a04e-ed4e3410d1b4/bc4152003.jpg)
European heavy plate market stagnates on low prices
Chinese import prices for heavy plates into Western Europe are continuing their downward drift putting more pressure on local producers whose prices are falling as a consequence. As in September, most Italian, Spanish and French distributors and stockists have yet to resume buying as the value of plate keeps depreciating, industry sources tell Kallanish.
Chinese heavy plate is offered as low as $280/tonne cif (€314/t) Southern European port for January delivery. The base ex-works range of Italian, French and Spanish transactions is €380-430/t with prices varying according to quality and quantity, sources suggest.
“Price are still far from bottoming out. The market in extremely nervous and keeps stagnating. At these prices margins are way too tight for both producers and distributors to make any money. Prices are expected to remain fragile in November,” an Italian service centre comments.
Truly global, user-friendly coverage of the steel and related markets and industry that delivers the essential information quickly while delivering on most occasions just the right amount of between-the-lines comment and interpretation for a near real time news service of this kind.
Anonymous
Very good overview of the weekly steel market.
Anonymous