The European stainless steel flat products market has seen some pick up in orders this month. The difficult market situation is persisting however with European sellers having seen finished product sales fall last year, distributors and producers tell Kallanish.

The European distribution sector is still unwilling to commit to larger buying volumes and refuses to purchase at increased prices. The first quarter is forecast to remain in line with January prices as mills will not increase prices and are now selling for end of February delivery. In the fourth quarter of last year they had extremely short delivery times. Prices may increase towards the end of Q1 however depending on whether European distributors destock and on nickel prices, Kallanish hears. 

Stainless hot and cold rolled coil prices are falling by €100/tonne ($111/t) month-on-month on average also due to falling nickel prices and lower alloy surcharges. CRC is now at €1,930-1,950/t delivered on average while HRC prices are at €1,750-1,760/t delivered, sources reveal.