The European association of metals distributors and service centers EUROMETAL has announced that in the third quarter of 2011 overall steel sales of stockists in the European Union were down 6 percent quarter on quarter. In particular, long steel product sales decreased by 8 percent, while flat rolled sales dipped by 2 percent, both quarter on quarter.
Sales EU distribution | |||
Sept/Aug variation (%) | Q2/Q3 variation (%) | H1 2011/2010 variation (%) | |
Long products | +20 | -8 | +10 |
Flat rolled | +24 | -2 | -8 |
TOTAL* | +20 | -6 | -1 |
According to the report, the quarterly decrease was mainly due to the seasonal factor. In the September alone, EUROMETAL recorded a sharp increase compared to August (up 20 percent), which lead stocks to decrease.
Steel Stocks EU distribution (days of sales) | ||||
Sept 2011 | June 2011 | March 2011 | Sept 2010 | |
Long products | 55 days | 58 days | 58 days | 57 days |
Flat rolled | 61 days | 62 days | 50 days | 59 days |
TOTAL* | 63 days | 65 days | 58 days | 62 days |