Italian merchant bar prices are stable compared to February, for the time being, but producers are mulling increases in line with rising scrap prices.

Transaction prices remain stable on last month’s levels of €240-250/tonne base ex-works, despite an attempt to push values to €260/t ($310) base ex-works. Including size extras, merchant bar transactions are currently at €660-670/t ex-works, sources say.

This week, however, producers are seen returning quotes to the level of €260/t base ex-works. Italian scrap has gone back to the January peaks, with shredded grade E40 transacted last week at as much as €375/t delivered, Kallanish hears.

Merchant bar sellers say that February was a good month for sales despite the falling prices of scrap and rebar. Like last month, Spanish offers are not disrupting domestic sales as they are only €20/t below Italian levels.