AIIS Press Release – December 2017 Steel Imports

Alexandria, VA. January 30, 2018.

Despite an end-of-year dip, annual steel imports increased by more than 15 percent in 2017.

The December total of 2.45 million net tons of imports was down 10 percent from November. This followed an 11.4 percent slide from October to November.

Imports from Brazil plummeted more than 29 percent to 355,000 net tons in December, a total that was nearly unchanged from December 2016, while imports from the European Union slid nearly 24 percent to 423,000 net tons, a 3.8 percent decrease from a year earlier, and imports from South Korea fell almost 9 percent month-to-month and more than 27 percent from December of last year to 192,000 net tons. As for the NAFTA countries, imports from Canada fell one-tenth to 494,000 net tons, which was 13.7 percent higher than the previous December, while imports from Mexico slid 7.5 percent to 244,000 net tons, which was 2.2 percent lower than a year prior.

Imports for all of 2017 totaled 38.12 million net tons, a 15.4 percent increase over 2016. Canada shipped 6.32 million net tons of steel to the United States during the year, a 12 percent annual increase, while the European Union sent 5.53 million net tons, an increase of 17.4 percent. Imports from Brazil totaled 5.15 million net tons, up 18.1 percent from 2016, imports from South Korea 3.76 million net tons, down 1.1 percent, and imports from Mexico 3.49 million net tons, up 16.2 percent.

It is ironic – but not coincidental – that steel imports increased sharply under a president who campaigned on pledges to restrict them to protect the domestic steel industry. Those promises appear to have encouraged a rush to import steel before restrictions could be put in place, leading to the big swing from the last full year of the Obama administration, when imports decreased 14.9 percent. It is fortunate that President Donald Trump’s trade promises have so far gone unkept, but with the Section 232 report now having been submitted to the White House by the Department of Commerce, the possibility that the United States will limit steel imports remains, and may have increased. It would be unfortunate if the administration cites the growth in imports in 2017 as evidence that restrictions are needed, since that seems to have been, at least in part, a Trump-induced increase. Not only does protectionism distort markets, even talk of protectionism distorts them.

Richard Chriss, AIIS President
chriss@aiis.org

B GROUP to launch reinforcement service center in Finland by the end of the January

Northern Europe based reinforcement products supplier B GROUP is to open rebar processing plant with capacity for 20 000 tons per year at the seaport of Loviisa in the south of the Finland. It is their second opened reinforcement service center in Scandinavian countries during one year.

B GROUP started it’s operation in 2009 in Scandinavian countries, becoming 2nd fastest growing construction sector company by 2015 in Europe. Company is operating Scandinavian production units under the brand name of Express steel service in Sweden, Finland and Norway.

Currently it is operating production from 2 different processing plants, one based in home country of the group Lithuania, with operational yearly capacity of 31 000 tons, producing cut and bend bar’s, welded reinforcement, and roll mesh and unit based in Sweden with 24 000 ton yearly capacity.

New reinforcement service opening

On 2017 March company started operating reinforcement service center in Arboga, Sweden and got very positive feedback from the market participants regarding lead times and service quality. According to CEO Donatas Gelazauskas, that was the  main reason to expand our productional capacities in other markets.

Now company is launching new reinforcement service center in Loviisa seaport, in Finland and will start production at the new plant on January 29th 2018. Company is planning use machinery supplied by Italian equipment producer M.E.P., based on rebar in coils and straight bars material.

“We are going further with market demand to source the material for construction purposes in shorter lead times and bring more sustainability and comfort for our constantly increasing customer base” CEO Donatas Gelazauskas said.

Further plans

Also on 2018 March B GROUP is planning to launch third reinforcement service center in Scandinavian countries, this time – in Norway.

In overall company plans to raise productional capacity by end of year 2018 up to 130 000 ton from 55 000 operated in 2017,  although group has reached total consumption of reinforcement products including, straight bars, re bar in coils and welded meshes of 180 000 tons same year, with a planned groath to reach 300 000 T in 2018.

Till 2021 company is planning to invest about 30 millions euros to infrastructure improvement and production development.

 

Handel Schweiz: Update 1-2018

Wohin man schaut: lauter Chancen, die man packen kann und soll. Es geht darum, das Verhältnis zur EU zu stabilisieren und den Freihandel weiter zu fördern und auszubauen. Der Zollabbau für Industriezölle und die Entrümpelung der Negativliste zu Cassis de Dijon sind ermutigende konkrete Schritte. Die Rahmenbedingungen sind ständig zu verbessern und der Handel muss sich in der digitalisierten Welt positionieren. Man kann sich die Herausforderungen, welche auf den Handel zukommen, gar nicht gross genug vorstellen. Die Rollen entlang der Wertschöpfungsketten werden neu verteilt und je länger je mehr wird versucht, alleiniger Player zu sein – von der Produktion über die Logistik und Lagerhaltung bis zur Feinverteilung direkt an den Kunden. Der Grosshandel überlebt, wenn er als Problemlöser wahrgenommen wird, als Brückenbauer zwischen Hersteller und Kunde.

Für 2018 wünsche ich Ihnen viele guten Ideen und Erfolg bei deren Umsetzung. Handel Schweiz ist für Sie da, nicht nur am World Café am 18. April oder am Tag des Handels am 8. Juni.

Ihr Kaspar Engeli
Direktor Handel Schweiz

Sicher kommt es in den Mund – Glosse 

Wie haben wir sie wieder genossen, die Weihnachtszeit ab anfangs Oktober. Ohne uns um die Frage zu kümmern, ob wir das Richtige gegessen haben, d.h. schlemmten wir schweizerisch? Dabei ist es so einfach, sich zu informieren, dank klarem gesetzlichem Regelwerk.

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Tag des Handels 8. Juni 2018

Der Handel steht vor grossen Herausforderungen. Wohin geht die Reise in einer mehr und mehr digitalisierten Welt, wo Plattformen mehr und mehr Raum einnehmen, sich Einkaufsgewohnheiten rasch verändern und Wertschöpfungsketten neu geknüpft werden? Diesen Fragen gehen wir am Tag des Handels in Bern nach.

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World Café 18. April 2018

Wie passen Stadt und Handel zusammen?
Wie sieht die ideale Stadt aus Sicht des Handels aus?
Wie bringt man verschiedene Interessen auf einen Nenner? Diesen und anderen Themen widmet sich das World Café vom 18. April 2018 im Metropol in Zürich.

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Dem Handel ein Gesicht geben

Wer hat eine interessante Geschichte im Handel erlebt? Handel Schweiz bietet eine Plattform für Lustiges und Kurioses aus der grossen, weiten Welt des Handels.
Sie haben etwas erlebt, was nicht alltäglich ist: Wir veröffentlichen es!

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Der Online-Schalter für Unternehmen

EasyGov macht die nötigen Behördengänge einfach, schnell und effizient. Die sichere und zuverlässige Plattform ermöglicht Unternehmen das elektronische Abwickeln von Bewilligungs-, Antrags- und Meldeverfahren an einem einzigen Ort. EasyGov entlastet und spart Kosten – bei den Unternehmen und bei den Behörden.

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Declareit Dutax – die Software für Ihre eVV Import

Der Countdown bis zur definitiven Einführung der elektronischen Veranlagungsverfügung eVV läuft immer schneller. Die Zollquittung wird von den Schweizer Zollbehörden definitiv per 1. März 2018 digitalisiert. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt muss sich jeder Importeur selbst um die Abholung der eVV vom Zollserver kümmern.

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www.handel-schweiz.com

German stocks and sales fall again in December

German stocks and sales of flat steel dropped further in December, according to data provided by stockholding association BDS.

Seasonal destocking in December is widely common in Germany, so the month-on-month drop is not surprising; however, the volumes decreased from the lowest level in two years seen in November to an even lower level in December. Sales saw the biggest drop by 36.6% to 365,842 mt on month, a level last recorded in December 2014 when sales reached 347,504 mt.

The sales year-on-year drop stood at 10.52%. Stock levels at German distributors and stockists had been dropping since July 2017 and reached a two-year low last month at 1.27 million mt, seeing a 2% decrease on month 7.14% slip on year.

Looking at the entire year, flat steel stocks were slightly up by 0.8% year-on-year to 17.1 million mt, while sales went up by 1.2% y-o-y to 6.5 million mt with Q4 being showing the lowest levels for stocks and sales.

As S&P Global Platts reported, stock levels in general had been rising at distributors across Europe, while sources said German stokholders have access to stocks in European ports. “I’m not entirely convinced that the [BDS] figures draw the truest picture as a lot of stockholders do maintain access to warehouses in the Benelux,” said a German trader.

Long product stocks remained stable on-year in December at 796,323 mt, seeing a 1.8% monthly drop. Sales were however down 11.8% compared to December 2016 at 179,511 mt, seeing a 1.5% drop compared to the previous month November.

Laura Varriale, SBB Daily Briefing, S&P Global Platts

La unión hace la fuerza

Estimados colegas, una vez más es un placer dirigirme a vosotros desde esta atalaya que es nuestra Unión de Almacenistas de Hierros de España.

Me gustaría, esta vez, hablaros de la propia Unión y de la aportación que nos hace a todos los miembros que la formamos.

Ya han pasado casi cuatro años desde la elección de la actual Junta Directiva, con su Presidente al frente Juan Carlos Núñez. En este tiempo transcurrido se ha conseguido asentar la asociación después de un período convulso debido a la crisis y, especialmente, debido a una multa impuesta por el Tribunal de la Competencia a todas luces injusta.

Nuestra UAHE nos aporta mucho valor añadido a los almacenistas (por cierto cada vez más reconvertidos en centros de servicios.) Es una extraordinaria plataforma para intercambio de información, conocimiento y networking.

Por enumerar y sin ánimo de ser exhaustivo mencionaría las siguientes aportaciones:

– Valiosa información estadística sobre la situación del mercado siderúrgico.
– Actualizada información de prensa varias veces a la semana.
– Puesta al día de diferentes estudios técnicos sobre seguridad y salud, transportes, etc.
– Organización de Congresos nacionales e internacionales, con ponentes de primer orden, sobre asuntos que nos afectan directamente.
– Nos representa en otras asociaciones como Confemetal, La Plataforma Multisectorial contra la Morosidad, Anifer, Ascem, ATA, EUROMETAL, etc.
– Mantenimiento actualizado del Balance Sectorial.

Indico en línea aparte, y como logro más importante en este pasado año, la consecución de un “libro blanco” sobre digitalización, actualmente en período de pruebas en dos almacenes y dos fábricas.

Todas estas tareas se han realizado con un presupuesto muy exiguo. Esta falta de presupuesto se ha suplido con horas de dedicación entusiasmada de los miembros de la Junta Directiva. Si pudiéramos disponer de unos recursos mayores el valor añadido se incrementataría geométricamente y podríamos alcanzar metas (hoy impen-sables), como la de la asociación alemana que tienen en proyecto organizar un master en una escuela de negocios sobre como dirigir un negocio de distribución de acero.

No os aburro más, pero permitidme haceros un ruego: Tratad de atraer a nuevos miembros a nuestra asociación. Quizá antiguos almacenes que con la crisis decidieron recortar gastos, quizá almacenes que en su día salieron descontentos por la aportación recibida o, porque no, nuevos negocios creados. LA UNIÓN HACE LA FUERZA.

Fuerte abrazo para todos.

Roberto González

Vicepresidente UAHE

Revista INFOACERO – Enero 2018

En el enlace siguiente pueden acceder a la edición de enero de nuestra revista Infoacero: Infoacero enero 2018

A continuación destacamos algunos de sus contenidos:

  •     Opinión – D. Roberto González- Presidente Zona X y Vicepresidente de UAHE.
  •     Evolución del Índice de Precios de Productos Siderúrgicos – UAHE.
  •     Sector Construcción Resumen de las previsión de Euroconstruct para 2018.
  •     Subvenciones: eficiencia energética y digitalización.
  •     Colaboración Ascem: “La estructura metálica, perspectiva económica para 2018 y Retos”- D. Jordi Romanyà- Presidente Ascem

U.A.H.E.

Tfno: 91 411 06 98
www.uahe.es

EU mills prepare AD petition against Russian rebar: sources

Some European steelmakers are preparing to petition the European Commission for an anti-dumping investigation into Russian rebar imports, sources told S&P Global Platts Wednesday.

Eurofer did not comment on the supposed petition, and nor did one of the supposed complainants.

Russian exports into the European Union have risen from 43,957/mt in 2015 to 304,093 mt in the first 11 months of last year; this means Russia is now the second largest shipper into the EU after Turkey, which sold 383,291 mt over January-November 2017.

A lawyer with knowledge of previous rebar dumping cases said the petition was “very likely,” and that the reported complainants in this case where the same as those who brought about the Belarus investigation; currently Belarus and China are dumped by the EC, though the latter’s volume was primarily headed into the UK and Ireland.

He also said several mills had suggested Russia could be the next case due to its building capacity. Several Russian steelmakers have gained certification for the European market in recent years, given their increasingly saturated home market.

Russian bar seeking new destinations

Severstal comprised 70% of Russian rebar shipments into the EU in 2015, and it has been actively scouting for new markets in the last two years. Severstal secured Germany’s DIN 488 certificate for its Cherepovets works small and medium diameter rebar in 2015. NLMK Kaluga obtained the same certification for its 10-25 mm rebar, opening up Germany and some Eastern European and Baltic States. Evraz’s Zapsib later earned the same certification. In Q1 2016 Severstal secured certification for Denmark and Sweden, while in Q3 NLMK Kaluga got license to sell into Poland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Severstal also got Latvian certification, while Mechel’s Chelyabinsk works last year secured licenses for Austria, where it intends to ship up to 3,000 mt/month. In Q3 last year Zapsib got Polish and Dutch certification, after also getting Cares approval for the UK and some Middle East markets.

Russian rebar mills were running at just 70% of capacity in 2017 amid surplus production, a primary factor in their search for new markets — capacity will increase further this year with the commissioning of Tula Steel, a 1.5 million mt/year steelmaking bar/rebar rolling plant.

Erica Sesay and Katya Bouckley, SBB Daily Briefing, S&P Global Platts

ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih obtains rebar approval for Netherlands

ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih has been certified to supply its rebar into the Netherlands, the Ukrainian offshoot of the world’s largest steelmaker tells Kallanish.

It has successfully obtained Kiwa certification which the steelmaker says “… confirms the high quality of its reinforcing bars.” The product can now carry the mark of the Dutch certification foundation ‘KOMO’. This is an international building industry standard, ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih says.

The company had previously had obtained certification to DIN, NBN and NF standards allowing it to sell rebar into Germany, Belgium and France respectively.

Kallanish

Former Scholz Edelstahl/AIMD becomes Gabo Stahl

Scholz Edelstahl, the distribution company that used to be part of southern German recycling group Scholz AG, has changed owners again, and now runs under Gabo Stahl.

The distributor of speciality long products headquartered in Essingen, with a branch in Dortmund, was spun off over three years ago from the ailing Scholz AG, before the parent went insolvent. It was kept secret for quite a while who the new owners were, until Mumbai-based automotive supplier Amtek was revealed, as Kallanish reported then.

Scholz Edelstahl, then renamed to AIMD, was one of several companies Amtek had acquired in Germany. Others included steel distributors HAPU in Essingen, Droste Stahlhandel in Bochum, and OWZ in Aalen. However, due to difficulties at two automotive supply companies, the Indian parent sold its German assets last year.

The new owner is former Goldman Sachs consultant Stefan Laucher, who took over all steel distribution activities plus heat treatment firm WTL and materials testing firm SRT. The change of ownership triggered changes in the management. Kunal Sabharwal und Anubhav Dham, Manfred Vogel, and Ole Josat left the company, with only finance chief Carl-Heinz Schütte remaining. New on board came Thorsten Meier, formerly buyer of steel distributors Günter + Schramm, VRW, and Stahl Dewald.

Now renamed to Gabo Stahl, the former Scholz Edelstahl and its units employ 180 staff, and hold an inventory of 100,000 tonnes.

Kallanish

Boutique en ligne pour ArcelorMittal France

ArcelorMittal Distribution West Europe a lancé le 11 janvier sa plateforme e-commerce, première boutique en ligne du groupe pour faciliter le processus d’achat auprès de ses clients.

En créant son espace sur le site dédié, le client a ensuite la possibilité de choisir l’agence ArcelorMittal qui lui convient, de visualiser les différents produits, suivre l’état de sa commande et accéder à son historique d’achat dans un espace sécurisé.

Il a également le choix de retirer sa commande en agence ou de se la faire livrer. « Avec cette offre de vente en ligne, ArcelorMittal Distribution West Europe offre à ses clients un vrai service en ligne pour gérer leurs approvisionnements 7 jours sur 7 et 24 heures sur 24.

Ce projet nous permet de participer activement à l’aventure digitale et d’envisager les évolutions de demain », selon Jean-Baptiste Courtier, directeur général d’ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions France.

Ce service est pour l’instant disponible dans huit agences du groupe (Caen, Langon, La Roche-sur-Yon, Reims, Rennes, Rouen et Savigny-le-Temple et Colomiers) mais devrait être déployé sur l’ensemble du territoire au premier trimestre de cette année.