29 . 12 . 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 370 / 15
II
(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)
COMMISSION
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
concerning the publication of guidance prices for certain steel products
provisions relating to production quotas (2) and for
other products for which there is a voluntary
arrangement concerning the reduction of deliveries :
The Commission of the European Communities, in the
context of its continuous study of market and price
trends under Article 46 of the ECSC Treaty and
following the conclusions which it reached in drawing
up its forward programme for steel for the first quarter
of 1983 , considers that the prices charged for steel
products since the end of the second quarter of 1982 are
still too far away from the target set by the Commission
in the communication published in the Official Journal
of 14 November 1981 (*) and are impeding the
attainment of the aims set out in Article 3 of the Treaty.
In particular, the Commisson is of the opinion, as are
the Governments of the Member States which have
expressed themselves in favour of stabilization
measures, that the inadequacy of the undertakings'
receipt is endangering not only the requisite
restructuring measures in the sector — with the risk of
aggravating the social and regional consequences— but
also the very survival of a number of undertakings .
The Commission therefore considers necessary that the
parties concerned should be guided towards a level of
prices which, while taking account of the legitimate
interests of steel users, reduces this risk. The
Commmission has also taken into consideration the
structural differences as between integrated
undertakings and electric mini-mills with regard to the
making of certain products.
To this end, the Commission hereby published the
following guidance prices, subject to the conditions
indicated below, for the steel products covered by the
Products Guidance price
(in Ecu per tonne)
Hot-rolled wide strip 352 n
Narrow strip 352 (*)
Hot-rolled sheet, not including strip 352 (*)
Medium and heavy plate 369 (*)
Cold-rolled sheet (coiled) 446
Wire rod (for netting) 257
Wire rod (for drawing) 332
Ribbed concrete reinforcing bars
42 kg/mm2 min. 236
Merchant bars : — category 1 266
— category 2 322
— free cutting steels 429
Sections and beams : — category 1 317
— category 2a 347
— category 2b 386
— category 2c 433
— category 3 446
Hot dipped galvanized sheets 502
Electro-zinc coated sheets 493
(*) After deduction of all discounts published or notified, other than
merchants discount and quantity allowances.
( 2) Decision No 1696/82/ECSC of 30 June 1982 (OJ No
L 191 , 1.7. 1982, p . 1 .)H OJ No C 294, 14 . 11 . 1981 , p . 3 .
No L 370 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 12 . 82
The Commission requests that these guidance prices
should be adhered to within the price rules of Article 60
when alignment takes place on delivered prices derived
from the price lists of other Community producers or
on offers originating from third countries, which are not
barred from the application of the alignment rules.
The Commission requests the undertakings to maintain
a payment period of at most 30 days following the
month of dispatch , net without discounts and interests
and with interest penalties for late payment. The
Commission urges that price lists should specify the
applicability of prices on the day of delivery. It also
stresses that deliveries of seconds and non-prime
qualities should be strictly limited.
The Commission requests that these guidance prices be
charged for all deliveries effected as from 1 January
1983 . Should the Commission's continuous study of the
market lead it to detect an improvement, it will publish
new guidance prices slightly increased for some
products to be effective for deliveries on or after 1 April
1983 .
These guidance prices correspond to the concept of a
basic price — with possible temporary rebates deducted
— and for a basic quality ex-basing point, with extras
for size and quality, etc. They apply to ex-works sales
and so do not include the extra charges which are
appropriate for ex-stock sales. It follows that the
discounts and reductions published at present, including
any temporary discounts, must not be increased and
that surchanges must not be reduced or withdrawn, if
such alterations would adversely reduce the level of the
guidance price. Where the price lists contain effective
prices as a function of quality or size, the differentials
between the effective prices resulting from quality
and/or size differences should be regarded as extras.
However, the effort to restructure the price lists, in
particular as regards the extras for quality and size and
the procedures relating to certain discounts, must not be
hindered thereby.
The Commission requests steel industry undertakings to
publish prices in their price lists in their national
currency at levels which correspond to the equivalent
value in ECU converted at the exchange rates of 12 June
1982 for European monetary system currencies, and for
those currencies outside the EMS the average rate for
the months of September, October and November
should be used, it being understood that the prices thus
established will be adjusted if there is a divergence in
the exchange rate of plus or minus 2-25 % by
comparison with these rates, including the lira and
those currencies which are not in the EMS .
In order to ensure the necessary discipline with regard
to the rules on prices, the Commission will tighten up
its controls with regard to the checking of prices and
State aid.
29 . 12 . 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 370 / 17
DEFINITION OF CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS
Ribbed concrete reinforcing
bars : with a limit of elasticity of 420 N/mm2 (42 kg/mm2) and a minimum
tensile strength of 500 N/mm2 (51 kg/mm2).
for quality DIN ST 33 and ST 37-2 or similar specification
— rounds up to 120 mm inclusive
— squares up to 80 mm inclusive
Merchant bars :
— Category 1 :
— flats (all dimensions)
— angles up to 100 mm inclusive (the larger dimension applies in the
case of unequal angles)
— T up to 100 mm inclusive
— U less than 80 mm
other sections, sizes and qualities .— Category 2 :
Sections
— Category 1 : IPN J
UPNj 80 up to 220 inclusive
— Category 2a: IPE 80 up to 220 inclusive
H 100 up to 180 inclusive
— Category 2b : IPN i
UPNJ
240 up to 300 inclusive
IPE 240 up to 400 inclusive
H 200 up to 300 inclusivé
— Category 2c: IPN 320 up to 500 inclusive
IPE 450 up to 600 inclusive
H 320 up to 600 inclusive
— Category 3 : H 650 up to 1 000 inclusive
and all other sections.
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy