Short Range Outlook : April 2021
Producers dominate in global longs market, outlook appears very positive Lead times are longer than ever in the global long steel products market and there is still strong demand, encouraging mills to continue increasing their prices. The situation has certainly become better from the producers’ point of view. They are all making money and their lead times are elongated. Shortages of material keeps prices and margins high It was somewhat surprising... Read More
Short Range Outlook : March 2021
Spring brings generally bright prospects for global long steel market The current situation and sentiments are generally very good in the global long steel products market. Order books are mostly filled to above average levels. The holiday season is over, winter in the northern hemisphere is coming to an end and vaccinations are progressing. These factors as well as stimulus activities, a will to return to normal, and strong investments are all strong... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2021
Sentiment improves in global longs market, concerns remain for February and March Despite some very good margins for December, the global long steel products market is facing more concerns for February and March. China did increase its presence in the export markets and did enter at prices comparable to other sources, but ended up lowering its prices quite quickly. In the current global market circumstances, sentiment is better and so a return to... Read More
Short Range Outlook : January 2021
Short supply in global longs market, full impact of vaccines remains to be seen Supply is still on the short side in the global long steel products market and this situation will probably not change until the second quarter. Chinese demand for raw materials and semi-finished products has been providing the main boost to the markets. As vaccines have started to be released, depleted supply chains have to be replenished, with plans being made for stronger... Read More
Short Range Outlook : December 2020
Global longs market gradually scrabbling back towards normalization The global long steel products market is gradually scrabbling back towards normalization. As effective vaccines are being rolled out, the markets are realizing that we are returning to normal. Business is flourishing. Supply chains are currently restocking and orders are solid, while production levels are not keeping up. Much better situation prevails now in terms of market prices The... Read More
Short Range Outlook : November 2020
Global longs market becomes even more regionalized amid widespread protectionism The global long steel products market is becoming even more regionalized. All the safeguard measures, tariffs and antidumping and countervailing cases are reducing the global exchange of products more and more. The Covid-19 pandemic gives producers in certain markets the pretext to lobby their governments with even more arguments to get their domestic markets protected... Read More
Short Range Outlook : September 2020
Global longs market driven by signals from China, sees greater regionalization The situation in the global long steel products market has not changed much since last month. Almost the whole market is driven by daily news and signals from China. It seems that, apart from China, there seems to be a smaller other global market. Buyers and producers are acting more regionally due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and safeguard measures. The overall... Read More
Short Range Outlook : July 2020
Global longs demand not as bad as reported, some mills more fortunate than others The situation in the global long steel products market has not changed much since last month. There has been a reduction in both supply and demand around the world, except in China where output keeps growing. Demand in the global long steel products market is indeed not as bad as the newspapers and media outlets report. However, the mills operating at more than 60 percent... Read More
Short Range Outlook : June 2020
Global longs export markets shrink further amid protectionism, Russians dominate As expected, things are getting more difficult for exporters in the global steel market. The EU opened fire with an antidumping investigation on HRC imports from Turkey, with Turkey firing back with duties on steel products from the EU. Canada started a similar investigation against imports of heavy plates from several countries, while Egypt has been working on a 10 percent... Read More
Short Range Outlook : May 2020
Impact of Covid-19 starts to hit home across the global long steel market The supply and demand situation in the global long steel products market has deteriorated as global economies are doing much worse today thanks to protectionist measures and the Covid-19 pandemic. There is oversupply of almost everything, except those items that suddenly end up being in short supply due to impacts on the supply chain. This does not include ‘shortages’ that... Read More