Italian steelmakers could face production disruptions and potential plant shutdowns if electricity and natural gas prices continue to rise, according to industry association Federacciai.
The association highlighted the widening energy cost gap between Italy and other major European markets. Italy’s wholesale electricity price (PUN) averaged €202.89/MWh in the first week of September, up from €194.14/MWh a week earlier. On September 10, the PUN reached €228.8/MWh, while the Italian PSV gas price exceeded €80/MWh.
Federacciai said Italian energy-intensive industries continue to pay significantly higher electricity costs than their European competitors despite existing support mechanisms. It called for measures including interruptibility schemes, interconnectors and Energy Release to remain in place, while also urging Italy to seek a temporary suspension of EU ETS costs for gas-fired thermal power generation during the energy emergency.
The warning comes as Italian steel production shows signs of slowing. Crude steel output fell 3.5% year on year to 793,000 mt in August, although January-August production remained 2.4% higher year on year at 13.99 million mt.
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