Short Range Outlook : May 2016
Supply-demand equilibrium now healthier in global longs market Supply and demand have reached a healthier equilibrium in the global long steel products market mainly due to Chinese supply being more focused on its domestic market. Low local stocks in the global markets and stronger demand in the construction segment have also helped and consequently prices have jumped to what may be considered to be reasonable levels. Low stocks still observed in... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2016
Slightly better conditions in global long steel market but significant risk still exists Conditions in the global long steel products market are slightly better as we can see a “better” supply and demand balance in China and the US due to output cuts at the end of 2015 and amid the restocking cycle in North America and Europe during the first quarter of 2016. On the other hand, there has not been much improvement on the demand side. Buyers... Read More
Iran hikes import duties on steel
Reuters reported that the Iranian government has raised customs duties on certain steel imports to 10-20 percent to protect domestic steelmakers against the surge in Chinese exports. Reuters quoted Keyvan Ja’fari Tehrani, head of international affairs at the Iranian Iron Ore Producers and Exporters Association (IRIOPEX), as saying, “A steel import tax has been imposed… to protect local steel mills against dumping by China, Russia... Read More
Short Range Outlook : September 2014
Challenging times in global longs market despite some demand improvements There has been a reasonable resumption of demand for long steel products in the North American and northern EU markets following the holiday period. Overall, the supply-demand imbalance seems to have eased, particularly for semi-finished materials, as a result of some cuts in production. Geopolitical conflict has caused business disruptions in the Black Sea region, Iraq and... Read More