Tuesday, April 20, 2010

worldsteel Short Range Outlook

 

Vienna, 20 April 2010 – The World Steel Association (worldsteel) today released its short range outlook (SRO) for 2010 and 2011. worldsteel forecasts that apparent steel use will increase by 10.7% to 1,241 mmt in 2010 after contracting by -6.7% in 2009. This represents an improved figure over the Autumn 2009 forecast for both 2009 and 2010. With these projections, world steel demand in 2010 will exceed pre-crisis levels of 2007. In 2011, it is forecast that world steel demand will grow by 5.3% to reach a historical high of 1,306 mmt. The resilience of the emerging economies, especially China, has been the critical factor enabling the earlier than expected recovery of world steel demand.

 

The worldsteel Economics Committee met in Beijing in March 2010 and its deliberations took place before the impact of the increase in raw material prices could be fully considered. The risk of increased volatility of raw material prices remains a major concern to the steel industry and its customers.

 

Commenting, Daniel Novegil, Chairman of the worldsteel Economics Committee said, “The general picture is an improvement on the forecast we issued in October last year. The world steel industry now seems firmly set on a path to recovery. The emerging economies, who in total maintained positive growth through the crisis, will continue to show strong growth, driving world steel demand in the future, however the current recovery in the major developed economies is slower and the projected steel demand for them in 2011 is well below the 2007 level.”

 

“The recovery is not only earlier but also stronger than expected. It was driven in large part by government stimulus packages and recent inventory restocking. The real concern will be how post-crisis macroeconomic policies deal with fiscal balancing and inflationary pressures.” Daniel Novegil concluded.

 

China’s apparent steel use in 2010 is expected to increase by 6.7% to 579 mmt after the impressive increase of 24.8% in 2009. The pace of economic growth and steel production seen in the 1st quarter of 2010 suggests that apparent steel use could be even higher than this forecast. In 2011, the growth rate will slow to 2.8%, which will bring China’s apparent steel use to 595 mmt. In 2011, China will account for 45.5% of world apparent steel use, compared to 48.4% in 2009.

 

India’s steel demand maintained stable growth during the crisis and is expected to grow by 13.9% and 13.7% in 2010 and 2011 respectively, after 7.7% in 2009. In 2011, India’s apparent steel use will reach 71.6 mmt.

 

In the NAFTA region, apparent steel use in the US fell by -41.6% in 2009 and recorded 57.4 mmt. With the recovery in the US economy and stock rebuilding, apparent steel use is expected to grow by 26.5% in 2010 and then 7.5% to 78.1 mmt in 2011, bringing its apparent steel use back to the level of 1991. For NAFTA, the level of apparent steel use that is expected in 2011 is similar to that of 1993.

 

The EU economies have seen a fall in apparent steel use of -35.2% in 2009 with Spain and Italy hardest hit by the collapse of their construction sectors. In 2010, the region will see an increase of 13.7% 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% to reach 145.2 mmt, bringing it back to the level of 1997.

 

Japan, which experienced a fall in apparent steel use of -31.7% in 2009, will see its steel use increase by 10.3% in 2010, but in 2011, its steel demand is expected to stagnate with -0.2% growth due to weakening of its major steel using sectors. This brings Japan’s apparent steel use in 2011 to 58.6 mmt, the level achieved in 1983.

 

The CIS region 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 -28.2% in 2009 with a fall of -41.9% in Ukraine. In 2010, apparent steel use in the CIS region will grow by 11% and then by 8% in 2011.

Turkey, which experienced a -9.4% decline in apparent steel use in 2009, will see an increase of above 13% in 2009 and 2010.

 

The MENA region continued to record positive growth in steel use in 2009 despite significant falls in UAE and Saudi Arabia. The region’s better than average performance, despite the decline in the oil price, is attributable to the strength of Egypt and Iran. The region will maintain relatively resilient growth in 2010 and 2011 with apparent steel use reaching 68.2 mmt in 2011.

 

1: Apparent steel use (ASU)

Short range outlook for apparent steel use, finished steel (2009-2011)

Regions

ASU, mmt

 

Growth Rates, %

2009 (e)

2010 (f)

2011 (f)

 

2009 (e)

2010 (f)

2011 (f)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

European Union (27)

118.4

134.6

145.2

 

-35.2%

13.7%

7.9%

Other Europe

23.9

27.2

30.4

 

-12.5%

13.5%

11.9%

C.I.S.

35.8

39.8

43.0

 

-28.2%

11.0%

8.0%

N.A.F.T.A.

80.9

99.9

107.1

 

-37.4%

23.5%

7.2%

Central & South America

33.6

40.4

43.1

 

-24.1%

20.0%

6.7%

Africa

26.4

28.7

31.3

 

9.6%

8.6%

9.3%

Middle East

40.7

44.7

48.4

 

-8.0%

10.0%

8.2%

Asia & Oceania

761.5

825.7

857.7

 

8.7%

8.4%

3.9%

World

1,121.2

1,240.9

1,306.2

 

-6.7%

10.7%

5.3%

     China

542.4

578.7

594.9

 

24.8%

6.7%

2.8%

     BRIC

640.9

692.0

720.7

 

17.5%

8.0%

4.1%

     MENA

57.5

62.9

68.2

 

0.8%

9.5%

8.4%

     World excl. China

578.8

662.2

711.3

 

-24.5%

14.4%

7.4%

     World excl. BRIC

480.3

548.9

585.6

 

-26.8%

14.3%

6.7%

 

# Ends #

 

Notes to Editors:

 

· The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. worldsteel represents approximately 180 steel producers (including 19 of the world's 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. worldsteel members produce around 85% of the world's steel.

· The projections forecast by worldsteel consider both real and apparent steel use. Apparent steel use reflects the deliveries of steel to the marketplace from the domestic steel producers as well as from importers. This differs from real steel use, which takes into account steel delivered to or drawn from inventories.

· The Short Range Outlook is provided by the worldsteel Committee on Economic Studies which meets twice a year. The Committee membership consists of chief economists from more than 40 of the worldsteel member companies. The Committee considers country and regional demand estimates to compile a global overview on apparent steel use (ASU). The Short Range Outlook is presented to the Board for their final review before publication.

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