The activity in all EU has been basically zero as all operators are coming back to job in full style by next Monday ie January 11th 2010.
However first information’s are indicating of a price increase trend that seem taking place. Yet is too early to say anything sure .
However basic products such as scrap and pig iron are showing quite important price increases. As a result we are expecting that long products, starting with billets, will also show price increase also driven by an apparent shortage.
The quite rigid winter in EU and particularly in East Europe, with extremely heavy situation in Ukraine where Black Sea ports have been forced to close for some days during Xmas period, has determined non planned production cuts with consequent delivery delays.
By next week, major Russian and Ukrainian Mills will issue new price list for February production and March shipment and everybody is expecting price increases in the range of 7% to 12 %, particularly as far as HRC is concerned.