Italy's stainless steel producer Arvedi AST decided to suspend production at its Terni plant from November 20 to 30, 2024, in an effort to stabilize the stainless steel market and face the challenges of low demand and falling prices.

High energy costs put AAST at a competitive disadvantage, and it struggled to compete with global competition despite sourcing cheaper slabs from Asia to reduce costs. The situation highlighted the need for energy pricing and structural reforms in Europe to maintain the competitiveness of the stainless steel industry.