IREPAS in Istanbul: All eyes on protectionist measures as IREPAS celebrates its 35th anniversary with record attendance
The 79th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Istanbul, Turkey on September 16-18, 2018. There were 139 producer representatives among the record 519 registered delegates from a total of 52 different countries. There were also 84 registrations representing 45 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference which celebrated the 35th year of this bi-annual meeting, Murat Cebecioglu,... Read More
Short Range Outlook : April 2018
Confusion and uncertainty reign in global long products market There is obvious confusion and uncertainty in the global long steel products market triggered by the announcement of new tariffs on steel imports by President Trump as a result of the Section 232 investigation in the US, the subsequent exemptions from these tariffs, and the resulting safeguard investigation announced in the EU. Major exporters to the US – Canada, Mexico, Brazil,... Read More
Short Range Outlook : January 2018
Very positive prospects for global long steel market in 2018 The supply and demand balance in the global long steel products market has improved and may now be described as excellent. Demand remains strong almost everywhere and sentiment is also very good. It seems that 2018 will be a replica of 2017 as the prospects are very positive. China has been the main story in 2017 China has been the main story in 2017. It is not exactly out of the market:... Read More
Short Range Outlook : December 2017
Demand now even better in global longs market as China continues to stay away Supply and demand in the global long steel products market are still balanced following the price increases caused by the rising cost of production amid the tight electrode supply and higher costs of other raw materials. The good news is that there is even better demand compared to previous months as exports from China are still far from putting too much pressure on the... Read More
IREPAS in Athens: Global longs market in much better shape compared to 2016, but China needs to be watched
The 77th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Athens, Greece on September 24-26, 2017. There were 134 producer representatives among the 433 registered delegates from 44 different countries. There were also 76 registrations representing 43 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference, Murat Cebecioglu, chairman of IREPAS, said he believed the outlook for the next quarter is very... Read More
Short Range Outlook – September 2017
Further improvements in global long steel market amid lack of pressure from China Demand in the global long steel products market is good and has even been increasing slightly in almost all markets as there is no pressure from China on the international market. Strong domestic steel consumption in China reduces prospects for Chinese exports Some months ago, the consensus of steel sector analysts was that steel demand in China would decrease during... Read More
Short Range Outlook : August 2017
Good demand in global long steel products market backed by reasonable growth Demand in the global long steel products market is good and steady as reasonable growth is seen to be globally providing support for steel consumption. Chinese steel exports at 2014 levels playing huge role in global supply-demand balance Chinese steel exports are down to 2014 levels after having been considerably higher for the past three years. Obviously the reduced supply... Read More
Short Range Outlook : July 2017
Threat of new trade measures weighs on global long products market The threat of new trade measures in the US and of a counterreaction by the EU is weighing on all market players. The G20 summit will show us how the US administration and President Trump will move forward – whether he will prefer to continue with confrontation and the blockage of imports or whether he will soften his stance and come to a mutual agreement. Will the US become ‘an... Read More
Short Range Outlook : June 2017
Exporting countries under pressure amid protectionism and increased capacities in traditional import markets The supply-demand balance in the global long steel products market has been worsening over the last few weeks. Protective actions such as antidumping and countervailing duty (CVD) cases and import taxes, coupled with increasing capacities in some traditional import markets, have put export-dependent countries in a difficult situation. Protective... Read More
Short Range Outlook : May 2017
Better supply-demand balance in global longs market but China, trade measures and strong price competition keep the pressure on The supply-demand balance in the global long steel products market has been stable and more in equilibrium recently, compared to previous times, especially in China. Such a balance has been helping buyers to maintain their positive sentiment although, on the other hand, price volatility in raw materials and final products... Read More