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
The program of the 87th meeting in Monaco
Day 1: Sunday, October 9,2022 19:00 – 22:00 Welcome cocktail at Fairmont Monte Carlo Day 2: Monday, October 10, 2022 09:00 – 09:10 Welcome address by Chairman of IREPAS 09:10 – 10:40 SESSION ONE: Critical changes in global long steel markets – Long products, pig iron and EU - Long products market outlook Overview... Read More
Short Range Outlook : September 2022
Dramatic situation in global long products market, huge uncertainty lies ahead The situation in the global long steel products market is deteriorating as we have entered a rising-cost business cycle. Inventories are lasting a lot longer than expected due to the lack of demand in the market. The situation is dramatic, to say the least, and huge uncertainty lies ahead in the coming month. Europe and rest of the world seem to be two different planets Europe... 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
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 : April 2022
War in Ukraine a major gamechanger for global longs market The war in Ukraine has changed sentiment in the global long steel products market as well as fundamentally altering the flow of raw materials and finished products almost overnight. There is more demand than secure supply in the market. Before the war, the expectations were that demand would determine the direction of prices, contrary to 2021 when supply was the driving factor. Today, however,... Read More
Short Range Outlook : March 2022
Global longs market at unprecedented juncture after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine The global long steel products market has entered a new and completely unprecedented situation as a result of the war in Ukraine. The current situation means one of the largest suppliers of many raw and semi-processed materials will be completely excluded from the market for an unforeseeable period of time, with the consequences being almost impossible to predict at... 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