Steel Strip

Steelworks in Port Talbot, Wales, owned by the Tata Group, one of the foreign firms ‘investing in the UK as a key player in Europe’. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

Britain’s hard-pressed manufacturers have expressed growing unease that the financial sector was defended in Europe by David Cameron at the expense of Britain’s industrial interests.
Steelmakers fear the UK [...]

ECONOMIC TURMOIL LEADS TO WEAKNESS IN EUROPEAN STEEL MARKET latest MEPS report
Despite earlier market expectations to the contrary, European demand has not picked up following the long holiday break. This is partly due to grave concerns over the financial situation across the region. The mills are experiencing low levels of order entry and, consequently, some [...]

The recent floods in Australia are having a major impact on coal mining. As Australia is one one the top five coal exporters in the world this is certain to have an impact on the availability of “coking coal” used in the manufacture of steel.
Whilst the most immediate effect will be felt in the South [...]

I came across this article by Bridget Freas over at the seekingalpa site.
Whilst the article concerns the future of the steelmaking industry from a financial viewpoint, it raises some interesting points with regard to steel pricing.
Historically demand has been the major factor in steel costs with Steelmakers quick to seize opportunities to increase prices [...]

Corus has confirmed that unused carbon credits will form part of any deal struck on the sale of its Teesside Cast Products plant; a recent report says the company had one of the highest surpluses of carbon allowances in Europe. The steel maker was among three EU companies left with the most unused carbon credits [...]

Came across this interesting article on the BBC website today
By Tim Bowler Business reporter, BBC World Service
Are the world’s iron ore mining companies putting the world recovery in jeopardy, by forcing up prices?
Iron ore is a key component in the manufacture of steel, and is used in construction and heavy [...]

Hot on the heels of the recent announcement by ArcelorMittal of possible steel production cutbacks, Bloomberg are reporting discussion of cuts in China:
Chinese steelmakers are likely to cut production in the third quarter because of “weak” demand from auto and appliance makers, according to the nation’s second- biggest mill.
Slower demand may prompt smaller makers to [...]

The latest MEPS report suggests that steel prices may have reached a peak. Despite this Northern European Mills continue to pursue price increases for the third quarter:-
Excerpt:
In Western Europe, producers are talking up period three prices but firm negotiations are only just starting. Customers believe that some of the numbers being proposed are far [...]

Despite  the European steel mills remaining bullish on third quarter prices, we are beginning to see signs that may indicate a weakening quite soon.
The price increases have never been demand driven, with the mills quoting cost increases and particularly iron ore as a driving factors.
A recent report from Platts reproduced at Yahoo finance indicates [...]

The latest MEPS article is reporting that the mills are talking up third quarter prices
MEPS - EU AVERAGE STEEL PRICE UP €55 PER TONNE BUT CLOSE TO PEAK
The mills are talking up third quarter prices for strip mill products but firm negotiations are not yet underway. Their final proposals will depend on the level that [...]