Short Range Outlook : June 2019
Uncertainty in global long steel products market increases dramatically The uncertainty in the global long steel products market has increased dramatically. Nowadays, the most stable region is China, where steelmakers have been increasing their weekly production volumes, whereas the rest of the world is just trying to hang on. Ferrous scrap and iron ore price trends decouple completely Ferrous scrap and iron ore price trends have completely decoupled. Iron... Read More
China to restrict scrap metal imports starting from July
Chinese importers will have to receive licenses and quotas from China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment for certain scrap metal imports, according to Reuters. As of July 1, the ministry will start accepting requests for import licenses, while the import quota volume has not been disclosed. As of the same date, imports of eight scrap grades including copper, aluminum and steel will be restricted. Read More
Short Range Outlook : May 2019
Global long steel market mostly unstable despite supply-demand equilibrium A balance has been maintained between supply and demand in the global long steel products market, but it is still difficult to transact business globally. However, shorter-distance regional business is good. The global market can be described as mostly unstable, with only a few exceptions. Absence of Chinese still provides support for the rest of the world We have to take into... Read More
EU transfers unused quotas to “other countries”
The European Commission has transferred the quotas under “other countries” and “all third countries” which were unused between February 2 and March 31 to the “other countries” quotas for the April 1-June 30 period as of May 2. Accordingly, an additional volume of 19,704 mt has been added to the “other countries” rebar quota, which had been quickly used up in early April when the “other countries” quotas became available to all... Read More
Egypt imposes provisional safeguard duty on billet and rebar imports
The Egyptian government has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it has imposed a provisional safeguard duty on steel billet and rebar imports for a period of 180 days starting from April 15. Egypt will collect up to 15 percent duty on billet imports and 25 percent duty on rebar imports. According to the notification made to the WTO, imports from developing countries shall not be subject to the proposed provisional safeguard measure as... Read More
IREPAS in Barcelona : Protectionism, raw materials and Turkey top the agenda
The 80th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Barcelona, Spain on April 7-9, 2019. There were 132 producer representatives among the 416 registered delegates from a total of 48 different countries. There were also 70 registrations representing 40 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference Murat Cebecioglu, chairman of IREPAS, said that IREPAS firmly believes in, has supported... Read More
CITT has not recommended final safeguard duty for rebar or wire rods
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has recommended final safeguard duties for only two steel products, i.e., heavy plate and stainless steel wire, from among the seven steel products that have already been subject to provisional safeguard duties since October 2018. For the remaining five products, the CITT has either found no increase in imports or found that imports have not harmed the Canadian steel industry. In October 2018, Canada... Read More
EU quota for “other countries” now open to all
As of April 1, 2019, the European Commission’s steel import quotas for “other countries” have become accessible to all countries, while the unused quotas of “other countries” for the February 2-March 31 period have also become accessible to all countries which have used up their own quotas for the period. Accordingly “other countries” import quotas, for the period between April 1 and June 30, stand at 133,004 mt for rebar, and at 74,518... Read More
Short Range Outlook : March 2019
Positive mood prevails in global long steel products market despite virus of protectionism The global long steel products market is currently in a positive mood amid good demand worldwide. Had there not been protectionist actions like additional tariffs, quotas or safeguard measures, the global business scenario would be much better. Protectionism is like a virus, expanding and hurting the international trade environment as we knew it. Canada and... Read More
Canada exempts Mexico from safeguard measures on wire rod imports
Canadian finance minister Bill Morneau has exempted NAFTA ally Mexico from controversial safeguard measures on imports of energy tubular products and wire rod, as reported by Canada-based CBC News. Accordingly, the imports of these products from Mexico will no longer cost an extra 25 percent, effective as of February 2, 2019. The duties already paid by Mexican steel purchasers will be refunded. Finance minister Morneau’s spokesperson Pierre-Olivier... Read More