Plate prices expected to increase in Italy

Demand in the Italian plate market remains buoyant and the market is expected to calm down next week due to the Christmas holiday shutdowns.

Despite the negative expectations, the fourth quarter has been positive and is expected to close with better results than last year. A factory source said that they were shipping and selling at full capacity in December, which is usually slower due to the holidays, as if it was a normal month.

Another factory source said that 2023 was a positive year for plate sales in general. Prospects for 2024 also look optimistic, thanks to several infrastructure projects funded by the EU's post-pandemic recovery fund that are expected to start.

Plate re-rollers are quoting deliveries for late January and the second half of February. Contract prices are on an upward trend. S275 grade plate was delivered at €730-750/t on average, while S355 was traded at €20/t higher, sources said. New prices are expected to be between €780-800/t for S275 and €820-850/t for S355.