Short Range Outlook : March 2023
Better demand in global longs market It seems that demand in the global long steel products market is somewhat better after the holiday season. There have been signs of a pickup in demand everywhere in the past month, apart from the EU. The supply in the market has been adjusted accordingly, which has had a positive influence on prices. Consequently, the whole market dynamic has changed. The price spread between Chinese origin reinforcing bars and... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2023
Unpredictability persists in global longs market, recession fears may have been exaggerated The global long steel products market is still characterized by unpredictability. China’s impact on the global markets is still an open question and this contributes to the unpredictability for the second quarter. It seems that customers heard too much talk of recession last year and were convinced that all construction would stop in 2023. Actually, it looks... Read More
Short Range Outlook : December 2022
First quarter of 2023 could be very difficult for global long products market Raw material costs are increasing once again and energy prices are expected to be very high at least until March 2023. Mills are facing cost pressures once more in the global long steel products market. Business activity has been reduced during the past month and, even though scrap and iron ore prices have gone up, net margins have either at best kept pace or in some cases... Read More
Short Range Outlook : November 2022
Demand at crisis levels in global longs market, unlikely to improve in coming months Demand in the global long steel products market is either very low or there is no demand at all, depending on the region. Overall demand is less than real supply and possible supply increases. The demand for ferrous materials has also slowed down considerably as industrial outlooks have lost visibility. Energy cost uncertainty and the destruction of demand have led... Read More
Short Range Outlook : July 2022
Demand mostly very weak in global longs market, unlikely to improve in July and August It has become very complicated nowadays to use the word global when talking about the global long steel products market. It seems like there are different globes. Demand has disappeared almost everywhere and commodity prices are down, which definitely forces mills to slow down. The main issue for steel producers is volume and profitability. Adding salt to the wound,... Read More
IREPAS in Istanbul: War in Ukraine has fundamentally changed sentiment and product flows
The 86th meeting of IREPAS (the International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 29-31, 2022, in conjunction with the SteelOrbis Spring ’22 Conference. There were 191 producer representatives from 60 different companies among the record high 766 registered delegates from a total of 59 different countries. There were also 105 registrations representing 51 different raw material suppliers. At the opening... Read More
Short Range Outlook : May 2022
Global longs market faces challenges and uncertainties amid ongoing war in Ukraine Some oversupply is observed here and there in the global long steel products market. The market situation is getting worse. In particular, there is a vacuum in Western markets due to the war in Ukraine. Price hikes were very rapid and very steep, which could be a reason. Energy prices have negatively impacted manufacturing, especially in Europe. Inflation is another... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2022
Global longs market boosted by improving demand and many positive factors Demand is picking up in the global long steel products market after the holidays and it will be even better once the weather becomes warmer in the northern hemisphere. It seems the market is getting back to normal. Section 232 is practically over. General demand is strengthening with the pandemic possibly coming to an end. Bottlenecks seem to be easing somewhat, such as breakbulk... Read More
Short Range Outlook : December 2021
Demand slows in global longs market, higher costs to reduce price erosion Demand is slowing down in the global long steel products market as we have entered the slow season in the northern hemisphere and the holidays are approaching. Market activity may remain slow until the Chinese New Year holidays and so we may see further price erosion in the coming weeks. However, such erosion should be limited due to higher costs of production. There is an energy... Read More
85th IREPAS meeting : Markets have never been better, great time to be in steel business
The 85th meeting of IREPAS (the International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held as a virtual event to ensure the health and well-being of all participants, on October 18, 2021 in conjunction with the SteelOrbis Fall’21 Conference. There were 223 producer representatives among the 918 registered delegates from a total of 70 different countries. There were also 69 registrations representing 31 different raw material suppliers. At... Read More