According to the latest ‘Stainless Steel Report April 2013' issued by Germany-based service centre Damstahl, in 2012 European stainless crude steel production amounted approximately to 7.5 million mt, falling around one percent compared to 2011, with the strongest declines reported in Germany and Sweden. In January of this year, European crude steel production remained stable compared to the corresponding month of 2012, which saw the third-highest monthly production level recorded in 2012.
According to the report, after a mostly satisfactory start in January this year, the stainless steel market in Europe has slowed in February and March. Uncertainty still prevails about the rest of 2013. Falling surcharges combined with historic low base prices and short delivery times have created an environment where the entire supply chain lives "from hand to mouth".
Meanwhile, Damstahl said that the situation in northern Europe is quite different from that in southwestern Europe. Demand from German, Dutch, Austrian and Czech fabricators actually improved in March this year, while stainless steel demand in countries such as Italy, Spain and also France remained at subdued levels.