Global crude stainless steel production is predicted to reach a new record annual total of 48.5 million tonnes, in 2017. This would exceed the previous high figure, set last year, by nearly 6 percent. Despite China’s efforts to control the growth of steel manufacturing, stainless steel output continues to increase at a healthy rate. This year’s

Brazilian distributors booked material for only immediate requirements, this month. Despite this, domestic steelmakers attempted to lift transaction values, in view of the upward movement witnessed in other global steel markets and the rising cost of steelmaking raw materials. Business sentiment remains mixed in India. The new 18 percent goods and

Flat product price weakness persists in both the north and south of Europe. Spot business is slow amidst a reluctance to commit to forward transactions for third quarter business. Inventories at distributors and OEMs remain relatively high. Large volume orders were placed at the turn of the year, in anticipation of price rises. The material has now

Hot rolled coil prices decreased, in Denmark, in July, compared with the previous month. Stockists have plenty of material and can wait until after the summer break to place substantial orders. Spot values continued to fall, this month, in Sweden. In Finland, hot rolled coil sales activity is at a higher level than is usual, at this point in the su

Worldwide steel selling figures are projected to remain on a negative trend for the remainder of 2017. The global all products composite price declined by 1.7 percent, month-on-month, in June. Weakening demand conditions and falling mill raw material expenditure are likely to put further downward pressure on world steel values, in the near term. Th

A degree of restocking is taking place, in the German market, as service centres sell off their excess inventories, accumulated earlier in the year. Availability, from domestic sources, is good. Underlying steel consumption is robust. New offers from third country suppliers are less competitive than in June. However, plenty of attractively priced m

Amid the ongoing talk about the Section 232 investigation, the consensus view of US steel market participants is that they are uncertain about the future direction of domestic pricing. At this time of year, US steel prices would be expected to soften, as market activity slows down in the run-up to the summer holiday period. However, the possible in

Difficult trading conditions persist in Brazil. Buyers started to push for lower prices, in view of the downward movement being witnessed in other global steel markets. Russian steelmakers are under pressure to lower plant utilisation rates to support transaction values. Market fundamentals remain weak. Local trading houses are booking for only imm

Demand for hot rolled coil is fair, in Denmark, but stockists are trying to reduce their inventories, before prices fall further. Delivery lead times from the mills have reduced. End-users are busy, in Sweden, and hot rolled coil sales volumes are healthy. In Finland, market activity is at a high level and, so far, the usual degree of slowing down,

Stainless steel flat products ex-mill prices decreased again, this month, in most of the countries surveyed. Further reductions are likely, in Western nations, in the near term. Market participants in Europe and North America predict that July/August is likely to represent the bottom of the current price curve. Transaction values fell sharply, this