Strip mill steel price movements in the EU flat products market continue to be negative as the summer holiday period approaches. Customers are avoiding placing any large tonnage because they believe that basis values will fall further. Third country imports are less attractive than a month ago because the US dollar has strengthened against the Euro.
MEPS forecasts selling figures to decrease in the September to November period. However, there is the possibility of a temporary upward price movement after the summer holidays as customers increase purchase volumes on their return to work. Nevertheless, the overall trend is expected to be negative through the fourth quarter of 2011.
Some re-stocking is likely to occur early in the New Year at service centres across the region. Consequently, steel prices are forecast to climb during the first half of 2012.