Progressive rebound in stainless steel prices?

After a 2025 marked by weak demand and shrinking margins, the stainless steel market is looking to 2026 with cautious confidence. Outlining the outlook is Alessandro Bettuzzi, CEO of Oiki Acciai Inossidabili Spa, an independent stainless steel distributor based in Parma and operating across Europe.“We’re coming out of a very challenging year” - Bettuzzi explains - “defined by the perfect storm of low volumes and insufficient margins. However, the first quarter of 2026 could bring a turning point, with a gradual rebound in stainless steel prices”. According to Bettuzzi, two key factors could drive this recovery:- the draft of the new safeguard proposal, designed to protect the European internal market;- the introduction of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) in January 2026, which will curb imports from non-EU countries not subject to the same environmental standards.This combined effect, Bettuzzi notes, will support European production and could create the conditions for a gradual rebound in prices over the coming months. However, another issue remains crucial: protecting end consumption.“We urgently need to defend our industrial districts from the influx of steel-intensive finished products” -  Bettuzzi stresses -. “These imported products are priced up to 30% lower than their European counterparts. Such a gap undermines the competitiveness of EU manufacturers and threatens the entire supply chain”. For the distribution sector, the real challenge in 2026 will therefore be to balance the expected price recovery with support for domestic demand, ensuring that market protection does not translate into weaker consumption.“At Oiki” - Bettuzzi concludes - “we believe that only a balance between open market dynamics and the protection of European production can ensure sustainable, long-term growth for the entire stainless steel value chain”.