Markets in Europe

摘要

Spot demand in EU steel markets is buoyant. Frugal stock management in the steel distribution system obliges service centres to buy in to meet current orders, so mills have the chance to recover from the setback in the last quarter of 2006. The end of year weakness eventually took the HR coil price down to 484 euros/tonne (630 dollars/tonne) in January despite mills' calls for price rises. Prices are now above 500 euros/tonne (657 dollars/tonne) throughout the EU. CR coil is, on average, selling for around 100 euros/tonne (131 dollars/tonne) more and imported HDG is coming in at 190 euros/tonne (250 dollars/tonne) more than imported HR coil.