Europe’s steel price decline “scary” for stockists

MEPS International’s latest Market in Minutes podcast explores the reasons why Southern Europe’s steel prices continued to decline in June. 

Steel market analyst Benedicte Mikolajczak joined MEPS managing editor Tom Sharpe to reflect on her research among steel market participants in Italy and Spain, which featured in this month’s European Steel Review. The 12-minute podcast episode – part of MEPS’s Speaking of Steel podcast series – also shares insight into the outlook for the region’s steel supply, demand and prices. 

Mikolajczak said that the negative steel price trend was making the business climate increasingly “scary” for Southern Europe’s stockists, which are suffering the effect of reduced sales and ever-shrinking profit margins. She told the podcast that increased trade defence measures might provide the only real hope of a sustained price recovery. 

“In addition to CBAM, further protection is expected as early as January 1, 2026”, she said. “I think that is seen as the only thing that will make prices turn around because people do not see real demand improving before the end of the year.” 

Among the topics discussed in MEPS's latest Market in Minutes podcast are: 

• How the downward steel price trend was making the business climate increasingly “scary” for Southern Europe’s stockists. 
• Oversupply in a context of low demand from many of the region’s steel consuming sectors. 
• The weak US dollar, and how it increased competition from low-cost steel imports during the May-July period. 
• Southern Europe’s steel importers now “juggling” the challenges of antidumping duties, safeguard quotas and CBAM to source material. 
• Will CBAM steer Southern Europe’s steel buyers towards domestic steel procurement, supporting European steel prices in the second half of the year, and into 2026? 

Watch the full episode by clicking on one of the links below: 

YouTube  

Spotify 

Apple Podcasts 

Regular insight from Southern Europe’s steel market is provided to subscribers of MEPS’s European Steel Review. The monthly publication features steel prices and indices, commentaries and steel price forecasts covering key markets across Europe. Contact MEPS for details of how to subscribe.