The EU economies saw a fall in apparent steel use of 35.2 percent in 2009 with Spain and Italy hardest hit by the collapse of their construction sectors, according to the short-range outlook report released by World Steel Association (worldsteel). In 2010, the region will see an increase of 13.7 percent in steel demand due to inventory rebuilding and a slight increase in real steel use. In 2011, real demand will drive the recovery and apparent steel use is expected to grow by 7.9 percent to reach 145.2 million metric tons, bringing it back to the level of 1997.
The CIS region, on the other hand, was another major victim of the economic crisis due to its heavy dependence on oil revenue and foreign capital. Apparent steel use in the region fell by 28.2 percent in 2009, with a fall of 41.9 percent in Ukraine. In 2010, apparent steel use in the CIS region will grow by 11 percent and then by 8 percent in 2011.
Turkey, which experienced a 9.4 percent decline in apparent steel use in 2009, will see an increase of above 13 percent in 2010 and 2011.