July, most of Asia will enter the rainy and hot weather, seasonal decline in demand will occur, meanwhile mills will also begin seasonal maintenance reduction of output, supply will decline.
European market: the downward trend has eased
June, the European market continues to decline, the downward trend has eased. Sheet prices continue to decline, the Nordic HRC ex-works compared to last year dropped by nearly 90 euro/ ton. Currently, the South, the Nordic price level is equivalent and steel may close to the bottom, with the ore price rise and inlet pressure weakened, the market is unlikely to fall further. However, the overall demand outlook bleak, European coil market may weak consolidation in later period. Long steel market continued to decline, since June Nordic scrap prices fell 25 euro / ton, follow by scrap, local rebar and wire rod prices fall 10 euro / ton, the southern European rebar selling price dropped to 465 euro / ton to 470 euro / ton.
U.S. Market: sheet rebound, weak longs
June U.S. HRC ex-works rose to $ 620 / ton to $ 640 / ton, cold rolled coil price is 720 $ / ton to 740 $ / ton. Thick market fell, currently below the level of $ 680 / ton to 700 $ / ton, which is the lowest since this year, steel market is expected to near the bottom. U.S. rebar market is steady. Basic specifications of the local rebar prices remain at $ 620 / ton to 640 $/ ton level.
First half of year the international market has appeared four major characteristics.
Asian supply continues to remain high. From January to May this year, world’s 63 major steel-producing countries and regions in crude steel production was 658 million tons, an increase of 2.1%. May, the world’s 63 major steel-producing countries and regions in crude steel production is 136.3 million tons, an increase of 2.6%.
Stocks continue to decline. In June, the Chinese stock market continues to decline, inventory pressures have eased, but the steel stocks are still at a high level. May, the U.S. service center inventory continues to decline, the market demand recovery, inventory pressure is very small; South Korea and Japan stocks continue to decline, which related primarily to reduction of steel production; European stocks increased slightly, weak demand and the decline in exports is the main reason. In addition to China, the world’s leading region in May this year, steel stocks were lower than last year and the year earlier level, which has little pressure on the stock market, and there is the late replenishment needs.
Weakly adjust in raw material prices. June, the international raw material prices continue to decline. United States and Japan to maintain the overall downward trend in scrap prices, Turkish import prices bottoming out, the whole remains weak. July, August the global market to enter the off-season demand, scrap and pig iron prices are difficultly expected to have a good performance, probability of post-consolidation operation is larger.
Weak demand continues to run. June, global steel demand growth remains weak intensity, July, August the northern hemisphere enter rainy season, the seasonal decline in market demand.
Ontrend Industrial Limited is high quality ERW steel pipe, steel section and steel wire supplier in China, if you have any need, please feel free to visit our website.