In addition to concerns about CBAM, market sentiment is also being affected by the upcoming ruling, which will replace the current protective measure, as well as the recently announced anti-dumping investigation into cold-rolled products originating from key exporting countries to Europe. Union. Against this background, several European manufacturers have temporarily suspended their commercial offerings, awaiting greater clarity in order to better plan their pricing strategies.
For stainless steel service centers, September ended with sales volumes below expectations and profitability is still under pressure. The beginning of October has not yet shown concrete signs of a recovery in demand, although some early signs of renewed consumer interest suggest a possible gradual stabilization of prices.
Overall, September showed moderately positive results: sales volumes increased from year to year, but showed significant differences between the segments. Recycling demand remains selective, especially in construction, while some product families such as beams and hollow profiles continue to perform better. However, expectations for the fourth quarter are more cautious: the slowdown in the German market and the weak performance of the French market are putting pressure on sentiment, which is reflected in domestic demand.
In the tinplate segment, competition from foreign suppliers - especially from Asia and India - remains strong, although the increasing availability of materials of European origin and the costs associated with CBAM reduce the competitiveness of imported products. A new steel protection measure recently announced by the European Commission, which provides for halving import quotas and imposing a 50% duty on volumes exceeding these limits, can help support demand for European steel, provided that supply conditions remain balanced and sustainable throughout the value chain.
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