The European association of metals distributors and service centers EUROMETAL has announced that in the second quarter this year the flat steel sales of stockists in the European Union lost some momenum, while their long steel product sales increased by nine percent, both quarter on quarter.
In H1 2011, overall steel sales of European stockists rose by seven percent year on year, reaching 80 percent of the sales volume recorded in the peak year of 2007.
Sales of steel by EU stockists | |||
June/May variation (%) | Q1/Q2 variation (%) | H1 2011/2010 variation (%) | |
Long products | -4 | +9 | +7 |
Flat products | +4 | -9 | +4 |
TOTAL | -2 | -1 | +7 |
According to the report, in June this year the stocks of European stockists were sufficient for 65 days of sales, showing no variation either year on year or month on month.
As stated by EUROMETAL, in the current year the steel stock index of European steel stockists is down by 25 percent when compared to the 2007 level.
Stocks of European steel stockists | ||||
June 2011 | May 2011 | March 2011 | June 2010 | |
Long products | 58 days | 58 days | 58 days | 64 days |
Flat products | 62 days | 64 days | 50 days | 59 days |
TOTAL | 65 days | 65 days | 58 days | 65 days |