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Try the Free AI Search EngineMixed Signals in European Steel: Spain & Austria Up, Poland & Belgium Down Amidst Cost Pressures
Europe’s steel market presents a mixed picture, with diverging production trends across key nations. While “Spain increased steel production by 11.6% m/m in October” and “Austria increased steel production by 35.8% y/y in October“, other countries experienced declines. “Poland reduced steel production by 11.5% y/y in October” and “Belgium increased steel production by 3.4% m/m in October“, revealing regional disparities possibly driven by factors like energy costs and import competition. The news articles suggest specific regional pressures, but no direct relationship to satellite-observed activity changes can be established.
The mean steel plant activity in Europe fluctuated, peaking in July and August before decreasing in October. AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke in Germany saw a steady increase in activity from June (27%) to October (39%). British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant showed a similar upward trend, rising from 42% in June to 52% in October. In contrast, U. S. Steel Košice in Slovakia experienced a gradual decline, from 63% in June to 58% in October. U. S. Steel Kosice remained significantly above the European mean, and British Steel Scunthorpe remained above the mean, while AG der Dillinger consistently stayed below the mean during the period. No direct correlation between these activity levels and the provided news articles could be established.
AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke Dillingen, an integrated BF-BOF steel plant in Germany with a crude steel capacity of 2.76 million tonnes, produces semi-finished and finished rolled products for automotive, building, and energy sectors. Activity at the plant steadily increased from 27% in June to 39% in October. However, no direct connection between this activity increase and the provided news articles can be established.
British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, an integrated BF-BOF steel plant located in England, has a crude steel capacity of 3.2 million tonnes, manufacturing primarily semi-finished and finished rolled products. The satellite data indicates that the steel plant activity has risen steadily from 42% in June to 52% in October. However, no direct correlation between this activity increase and the provided news articles could be established.
U. S. Steel Košice, an integrated BF-BOF steel plant in Slovakia with a crude steel capacity of 4.5 million tonnes, produces a wide range of flat-rolled products for various sectors. The plant’s activity has declined from a high of 63% in June to 58% in October. However, no direct connection between this activity decrease and the provided news articles can be established.
Given the reported 11.5% year-on-year production decrease in Poland, alongside news of plant closures (“Poland reduced steel production by 11.5% y/y in October”), procurement professionals should closely monitor supply chains originating from or relying on Polish steel. Consider diversifying supply sources to mitigate potential disruptions and negotiate contracts that allow for flexibility in sourcing. The news articles also highlighted overall decreasing EU steel production (“Spain increased steel production by 11.6% m/m in October”, “Poland reduced steel production by 11.5% y/y in October” and “Austria increased steel production by 35.8% y/y in October”), indicating a general market contraction, suggesting potential for negotiating more favorable terms with suppliers outside of the most impacted regions. Due to the Austrian production increase (“Austria increased steel production by 35.8% y/y in October”), steel buyers might consider securing supply contracts with Voestalpine AG.