Cold rolled coil prices in the Northern European region increased in the first half of April. As of April 11, quotations rose by 10 euros per ton, reaching 720 euros/ton EXW. Representatives of metal service centers interviewed by analysts attribute this increase to the decision of the largest producer – the ArcelorMittal group, which raised its price by 20 euros per ton, bringing it to 700 euros/ton EXW for April deliveries. Traders consider a selling price of 680 euros/ton EXW to be more realistic, as demand remains weak. New offers from ArcelorMittal will facilitate transactions at a price around 680 euros/ton EXW.
This is reported by Business • Media
The cost of cold rolled coil in the USA remained unchanged in the first month, standing at 1162 USD per ton EXW as of April 11. Delivery times from factories remain stable, indicating steady demand, which, however, shows no signs of growth. In Japan, prices for this metal from April 1 to 11 remained at 620 USD per ton FOB. This is attributed to the decision of one of the largest producers in Southeast Asia – the Chinese corporation Baosteel, which did not raise prices for flat products, including cold rolled coils, for May deliveries. Other companies are aligning their pricing strategies with Baosteel.
Price Increase in the Indian Domestic Market
The cost of cold rolled coil in India increased by 12 USD per ton from April 1 to 11, reaching 677 USD/ton DDP. This is related to the beginning of the new financial year (which started on April 1) and positive reports from automotive companies – the main consumers of this product. In particular, Indian automotive giant Maruti Suzuki reported a 21% increase in car sales in March compared to last year, totaling 125,930 units. For the 2024-2025 financial year, the company recorded a historic milestone – an 11% increase in sales, reaching 1.256 million vehicles. However, in April, the potential for further price increases for cold rolled products may diminish, as according to the Indian Federation of Automobile Dealers (FADA), 39% of auto traders expect a decrease in new vehicle purchases this month, while 43% forecast levels similar to previous months.
“The potential for price growth in the Indian domestic market is currently limited,” experts note.
It was previously reported that the Indian government is considering measures to protect the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that use steel from the impact of rising domestic prices by introducing protective tariffs on imported metal products.