Steel Strip

As predicted, the MEPS North American Average Hot Rolled Coil transaction figure climbed upwards this month. The inventory drawdown is all but complete, which prompted buyers to return to the market. Further increases are forecast as buying activity picks up into the New Year.
The MEPS North American Average Cold Rolled Coil transaction value also moved [...]

European steel producers including ThyssenKrupp AG and ArcelorMittal will today ask European Union trade officials to apply punitive tariffs on Chinese steel imports, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
It would take at least 10 months for the EU to apply tariffs, but trade officials in Brussels appear to be sympathetic, the [...]

 
The MEPS EU Average Cold Rolled Coil transaction value dropped this month due to weakening demand. Figures are expected to fall through the remainder of the fourth quarter as mills cut prices to attract orders. Service centres will continue to reduce inventories.
The MEPS EU Average Hot Dipped Galvanised transaction figure has also moved down in [...]

Austrian steel producer Voestalpine AG said that its purchase of a controlling stake in Boehler-Uddeholm AG has already resulted in cost savings of more than 81 mln eur, well above the 65 mln eur it had originally targeted for the current year.
At a steel industry meeting in Berlin, Voestalpine chief executive Wolfgang Eder said that [...]

The European Union will protect itself from unfair overseas competition if needed, industry commissioner Guenther Verheugen said Monday at a gathering of steelmakers.
The comments come amid a surge in China’s steel production, which the EU has already said it would combat with ”defensive measures” if necessary.
”You can expect us to care for a fair playing [...]

 WORLD
The MEPS - Global all products price in September was slightly above our estimate made in July. This was the result of an unexpected rise in Chinese figures for both flat and long products. Supplies became tight after the steel market picked up as activity improved when the temperature cooled from the hot Summer weather [...]

Four contractors were injured in an ‘explosion’ on the Scunthorpe Corus steelworks.
Three fire engines were called to the coke ovens in Dawes Lane at 11.35am yesterday after a flare stack was ruptured, causing a loud bang.The firefighters stood by as Corus employees isolated the supply to the damaged stack.
Four contractors were treated at an on-site [...]

 
There is an interesting article over on the Statesman site about Tata’s increasing interest in investment in the UK. The Indian conglomerate could now be the front-runner to acquire Jaguar and Land Rover.
 
Not content with an acquisitions spree that has included Corus and Tetley Tea, Mr Ratan Tata’s Indian conglomerate is now front runner in [...]

Steelmaker Corus faces a heavy fine after admitting its negligence led to the death of a Trostre worker.Francis Coles, of Brynhyfryd, Five Roads, died at the company’s Llanelli works after being hit on the head by a heavy strip mill plate. On Monday, in a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive, [...]

September 30, 2007 — ArcelorMittal and ThyssenKrupp Steel have decided to close Steel 24-7, the e-commerce platform they own and had been administrating jointly. The site was established by four steelmakers in 2001, though three of those producers were consolidated into Arcelor S.A. in 2002. Arcelor was formed by Usinor S.A., Arbed S.A., and Aceralia [...]