In the first ten months last year, European stainless crude steel production decreased by three percent year on year to six million metric tons, according to the Stainless Steel Report January 2016 issued by Germany-based service center Damstahl.
Meanwhile, demand in the German stainless steel market has not changed much in early 2016. After a relatively quiet start to the New Year, order intake started to pick up in mid-January but remains at moderate levels. Demand for stainless steel in the Dutch market is low. Bad news regarding oil prices and raw material price development makes it difficult to find a constructive long-term solution.
According to the Damstahl report, prices in the Danish stainless steel market are declining further due to the ongoing decrease in alloy surcharges. The general volatility in pricing is likely to ensure fierce competition also in early 2016.