After a contraction of 0.2 percent in 2013, apparent steel consumption in the EU is expected to grow by 3.1 percent in 2014 to 143.3 million mt with help of the construction industry which is gradually bottoming out, according to the short range outlook of the World Steel Association (worldsteel).
Worldsteel potinted out that Southern Europe seems to have passed its lowest point. Apparent steel use in Germany is expected to increase by 4.5 percent in 2014, Italy by 2.6 percent, France by one percent and Spain by three percent. A steady transition to a broader and more durable recovery will result in steel demand growth of three percent in the EU in 2015.