Short Range Outlook : March 2024

No improvement in supply-demand balance in global longs market, Asian exports may surge The supply and demand balance in the global long steel products market has not improved compared to previous months. Unfortunately, the positive expectations after the Chinese New Year holidays have not materialized. It seems Chinese exporters will continue to be aggressive, which of course will also drive other Asian exporters (Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and South... 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 : 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 : September 2021

Supply and demand balancing out in global longs market, freight still incredibly high In the global long steel products market, there are signs that supply has caught up with demand and that the supply-demand balance is becoming more neutral. The market seems to be getting back to normal in terms of lead times, prices, etc. We are now in a period where things have to get back to normal, which in fact may be different from where it all started. A price... Read More

Short Range Outlook : July 2021

Global longs market still positive overall despite logistical costs and delays Overall, the global long steel products market still looks positive, supported by strong demand, even though business has become more difficult due to higher logistical costs and time delays in getting goods from one place to another. Exporters are all under pressure due to the increase in freight costs. Container shipments are also very problematic. The only steel moving... Read More

Short Range Outlook : May 2021

Global longs producers hold whip hand amid strong demand, short supply, rising prices Demand in the global long steel products market has continued to increase recently, and particularly demand in China and developed economies continues to push the market up. At the same time, international supply has tightened even further. Most mills are offering a few months ahead, thereby contributing to upward movement of prices. There are imbalances in rebar... Read More

83rd IREPAS meeting : Global long steel demand more or less same as before pandemic

The  83rd 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 September 21, 2020 in conjunction with the SteelOrbis Fall’20 Conference. There were 205 producer representatives among the 627 registered delegates from a total of 53 different countries. There were also 73 registrations representing 35 different raw material suppliers. At... Read More

Short Range Outlook : September 2020

Global longs market driven by signals from China, sees greater regionalization The situation in the global long steel products market has not changed much since last month. Almost the whole market is driven by daily news and signals from China. It seems that, apart from China, there seems to be a smaller other global market. Buyers and producers are acting more regionally due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and safeguard measures. The overall... Read More

Short Range Outlook : January 2019

Is globalization of the world’s long steel products market now at an end? The global long steel products market is heading towards a more complicated and difficult period as the globalization of the steel business is being rewound amid a clash between liberal and protectionist trade policies that are somehow tied to political ups and downs between world leaders. It seems that global business will be relatively quiet as long as protective measures... Read More