European Steel prices steady but import threat remains

European  flat product steel prices stabilised, in February, to halt the negative price  pressure that had occurred for much of last year, said MEPS International in a  snippet.

In February’s issue of the European Steel Review, MEPS reports  that Italian and UK transaction values advanced, this month, after European  steel mills announced price hikes for first trimester business.

In Italy,  local producers secured slight price increases as distributors noted a demand  pickup since the start of the year. Delivery lead times extended, in the UK, as  domestic wholesalers report strong order intake. 

German flat product  prices may have reached their lowest point as domestic selling figures were  similar, to a month ago. However, buyers are hesitant to place orders at higher  price levels. 

In France and Spain, weak domestic demand and a high level  of import penetration from non-EU sources may hamper steel manufacturers’  efforts to lift transaction values.