Price trends for alloy surcharges on stainless steel – July 2026

The upward trend that began at the start of the year for alloy surcharges on various grades of stainless steel has continued, although a slight slowdown has been observed for certain grades with lower chromium and nickel content.

By contrast, steel prices have risen following the entry into force of new, stricter European rules on import quotas. There has been a 47 per cent reduction in duty-free quotas and an increase in import duties of between 25 and 50 per cent on quantities exceeding the duty-free quotas. These measures aim to protect European industry from global overcapacity, which was exerting significant downward pressure on prices. European manufacturers immediately took advantage of this to raise their prices, and this was immediately passed on by wholesalers. This increase is therefore not the result of a growing industrial market but of a change in the rules that alters the competitive landscape. It remains to be seen whether this trend will be sustainable in the future, depending on how the industrial market develops.