[ferro-alloys.com]Monthly alloy surcharges on austenitic grades of stainless steel flat-rolled products in Europe are set to rise in March, ending a sequence of seven successive monthly declines, first mill announcements indicated Thursday.

Finland's Outokumpu, the continent's largest producer, set its alloy adjustment factor for type 304 (4301) flat products at Eur1,351/mt ($1,535/mt) for March, up Eur123/mt from February.

This marks the first month-on-month increase since July last year when the surcharge hit a seven-year high, basis S&P Global Platts records, at Eur1,647/mt before retreating, primarily on lower nickel prices.

Having ended 2018 around 14-month lows, three-months nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange rebounded to five-month highs above $13,000/mt in early February.

For February to date, the LME nickel settlement price has averaged $12,548/mt, up from $11,455/mt in January.

Outokumpu's surcharge for molybdenum-bearing type 316 (4401) flat products was set at Eur2,051/mt for March, up Eur148/mt from the previous month and also ending a seven-month falling streak.

Spot molybdenum oxide prices jumped to two-month highs earlier this month, with the Platts daily molybdenum oxide price assessment currently standing at $12.10-$12.50/lb, up from $10.70-$10.85/lb a month ago on January 21.

Outokumpu's March surcharge for nickel-free type 430 flat products rose Eur21 from February's level to Eur627/mt.

(S&P Global Platts)

• [Editor:王可]