Steel Strip

 
World crude steel production tumbled in the first quarter as recession knocked down steel demand and although no quick-fix is on the cards, analysts predict the worst is about to be over.
But such a stabilisation and a recovery is set to vary by region, experts say.
Output in Germany, Europe’s biggest producer, is seen down [...]

Steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA will be indefinitely idling steel bar operations in East Chicago, IN, resulting in the layoffs of about 400 union and nonunion employees, or 8 percent of the Indiana Harbor plant’s workforce, said Jim Robinson, a district manager for the United Steel Workers. The USW received notice of the layoffs [...]

A simmering trade conflict between Europe and China is nearing the boil as state-supported Chinese steel companies ramp up capacity despite drastic cuts by the rest of the world.
A 166-page report by the European Parliament has accused China of systematic distortion of its steel market, resulting in "irrational capacity extension". This is promoted, it [...]

ArcelorMittal steel announced on Wednesday that it would continue to suspend production in Europe, and a union official said this meant the group would slash the output by more than half.
ArcelorMittal, by far the world’s biggest steel maker, said after a meeting here with European union officials that "it is necessary to continue to suspend [...]

Reuters reported today that German steel production in March halved, continuing a downward trend, and the steepest fall in 19 years.
The Federal Statistics Office on Tuesday said 2.10 million tonnes of raw steel were produced in March, down 49.8 percent year on year.
Europe’s biggest economy has been hit hard by the global downturn, with manufacturing [...]

The situation in the steel industry shows little prospect of improvement in the near future, and whilst trading conditions remain as they are cash flow will become an increasing problem, that unfortunately will lead to the demise of some players.
It is not only the low production levels, (total production in the first 13 weeks of [...]