Italy

摘要

High coil and plate imports to the EU as a whole invariably means imports to Italy have been very high. With distribution lines already overstocked and an uncertain economic outlook, there was nowhere for prices to go except down, even from their low fourth quarter level. During December HR coil prices spread wider as well as lower. Imported material was on offer for little more than Lit400/kg (185/t dollars) and the highest quotes from domestic and other EU sources were below Lit450/kg (208/t dollars). CR and HDG continue to share the same basis price, Lit600/kg (277/t dollars) by the end of the year, 310/t (275/t dollars) since then. In the first quarter HR coil is expected to sell for around 225-230/t (203/t), much the lowest within the EU. CR and HDG coil are expected to maintain a 80/t mark-up on this, I310-320/t (275-280/t dollars).