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
Temporary exemptions to Section 232 tariffs will expire May 1
A report issued late Thursday by US Customs and Border Protection indicates that the temporary exclusions for US steel tariffs under Section 232 will expire as of May 1. Starting that day, all countries of origin will be subject to the 25 percent tariff on US steel imports. The tariffs are effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after March 23, 2018. Countries with temporary exclusions to the tariffs... Read More
US adds EU, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Korea to temporary tariff exemption list
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced that the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Korea will be temporarily excluded from the 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum under the Section 232 which is set to go into effect for all other countries Friday, March 23. According to media reports, Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee that the Trump administration would base exemptions on “a... Read More
Trump signed proclamation authorizing 25 percent duty on imported steel
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation authorizing the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, while excluding Canada and Mexico and leaving the door open to sparing other countries on the basis of national security. Accordingly the U.S. will levy a 25 percent duty on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, and the tariffs will take effect in 15 days. Trump’s authority to establish the tariffs stems from a Commerce Department investigation that... Read More
IREPAS statement on US DOC’s Section 232 recommendations
IREPAS is convinced that, if the United States imposes the import remedy options which have been recommended by the US Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross following the conclusion of the Section 232 investigation into steel imports, American steel users will have to face much higher steel prices compared to the other parts of the world, which will certainly devastate many steel-using industries in the US. IREPAS affirms its belief that free... Read More
US DOC releases recommendations for steel tariffs or quotas under Section 232
US Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross publicly released his recommendations to the president following the conclusion of the Section 232 investigation into steel imports, with three import remedy options: A global 24 percent tariff on all steel imports from all countries. A tariff of at least 53 percent on steel imports from Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. A quota... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2018
Global supply-demand balance for long products still looks good but caution needed on supply side While the supply and demand balance in the global long steel products market still looks good, the supply side is gearing up. Supply pressure is not expected to create big problems in the short run but may be an issue in the medium term if demand is not able to cope with it. Even Chinese companies have learned that dollars are more important than tonnages.... 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 : 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