Short Range Outlook : May 2014
Some bright spots in global long steel demand despite ongoing uncertainties The global long steel products market is still characterized by uncertainty amid the adverse effects of ongoing political tensions. The market combines areas where business is reasonably good, with some others where business is very weak. Real demand slowed down last month in the EU market due to the Easter holidays. However, the customers in the region who had postponed their... Read More
Short Range Outlook : March 2014
Political instability casts a shadow over long steel market The global long steel products market has been adversely affected by political developments in Ukraine and Turkey, and also by the prevailing market conditions. The downward trend in raw material prices and the excess supply of finished products in the market have resulted in a slowdown in purchasing activity. Despite the continuing improvements in developed economies, these have not been... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2014
Difficulties in emerging markets adversely impact long steel business The annualized crude steel production of the world steel industry in December last year decreased to 1.521 billion metric tons as the average daily rate of production declined by 2.5 percent in the given month compared to the previous month. The capacity utilization rate of the industry was 74.2 percent in December. According to the World Steel Association (worldsteel), the 65... Read More
Short Range Outlook: January 2014
Mood brightens in global long steel market despite ongoing unpredictability The global long steel products market has resumed business after the holiday period, as activity had stopped in many countries from the middle of December up to the first week of January. The mild weather conditions in the EU have permitted reasonable levels of construction activity, which have helped to sustain a certain volume of demand in the region’s long steel market.... Read More
Short Range Outlook: December 2013
Stability in global long steel market but future prospects appear brighter The global long steel products market maintained its generally stable condition during the month of November on the back of stable ferrous scrap prices. Major exporters have been able to find some opportunities for product volumes in the North African and Middle Eastern markets, and, on top of that, maintenance closures at a number of mills due to the upcoming holiday season... Read More
Short Range Outlook: November 2013
Some improvements in stable but quiet market The global long steel products market is generally stable but still quiet, though some movements have started to be observed as we approach the end of the year due to several different factors. First of all, a seasonal uptrend in ferrous scrap prices has been triggered as the winter approaches and supply is expected to be tightened. This same situation also exerts an impact on long steel product prices... Read More
Price volatility, overcapacity, credit restrictions and trade barriers among issues facing long steel industry, but positive signs from global economy
The 69th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Istanbul, Turkey on September 22-24, 2013. There were 120 producer representatives amongst the 407 registered delegates from 49 different countries. Kim Marti was named as Chairman of IREPAS, replacing Ugur Dalbeler. Ioannis Meimaroglu, Chairman of the Raw Materials Suppliers’ Committee, confirmed that a record high number of 42 representatives attended... Read More
Short Range Outlook: September 2013
Raw material costs to provide some support for long steel prices despite depressed conditions The excess supply situation in certain regions in the global long steel products market in July also continued to be observed in the month of August. That said, market sentiment has lately been better in the US and Europe, where some price increases have been achieved. The market dynamics have been improving slightly in Asia too. Although the weak yen encourages... Read More
Short Range Outlook: August 2013
US leads the way for demand in global long steel market The situation as regards excess supply in certain areas of the global long steel products market remained the same in July as compared to June, while there have been price rises due to availability restrictions amid some closures, like in the EU region, or also due to pressure on the raw materials side, like in Asia. In some markets, supply has been reduced to some extent, balancing with a certain... Read More
Short Range Outlook: July 2013
Supply-demand imbalance still prevails in long steel market Demand in the global long steel products market in June remained unchanged as compared to May. There has been no improvement in terms of the imbalance between supply and demand in the market, despite the best efforts of mills to adapt their production to demand levels and thus avoid the creation of further supply pressure. As expected and as mentioned in our press release last month, ferrous... Read More