In 2015, shipments of strip mill products by European flat steel service centers to steel end-user segments increased by six percent year on year. In December alone, shipments of strip mill products increased by eight percent year on year.
Commenting on developments in the EU flat steel service center segment, Cesare Viganò, EUROMETAL vice-president, indicated that shipments by EU flat steel service centers were supported by positive business in automotive and auto-related industries and that in 2015 the market in southern Europe showed signs of a recovery in shipments, though unfortunately with economic key performance indicators (KPI) still at unsatisfactory levels due to the permanent imbalance between offers and real consumption.