[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] Italian Stainless Market Strangled by Weak Demand and Trade Protection

Published: May 11, 2026 10:41

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According to the latest report from Assofermet, the Italian stainless steel market is mired in uncertainty due to international crises and shifting U.S. trade policies. While downstream demand remains sluggish, with April sales decrease in both volume and value, the European producers are successfully hiking prices by leveraging looming trade barriers. The market is bracing for a 47% cut in import quotas starting July 1 and the ongoing cost pressures of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). With import channels severely restricted, the industry has entered a "wait-and-see" phase, focusing on two pivotal dates: the July 1 safeguard implementation and the August 1 deadline for U.S.-EU trade negotiations.

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