Day: 18 September 2025

The Office for the Protection of Competition in the Czech Republic has issued its provisional approval of IROMET SICAV’s acquisition of selected assets from competitor Liberty Ostrava.

The decision, which remains subject to final confirmation, concluded that the merger would not significantly distort competition in the domestic market.

Under the agreement, IROMET SICAV will acquire several strategic assets from Liberty Ostrava, including a pipe mill, a flat products rolling mill, a long products rolling mill and a coking plant.

These facilities form part of Liberty Ostrava’s broader portfolio in steel production and downstream processing.

IROMET SICAV is part of a business group headed by PCTT LIMIT s.r.o. The group operates mainly through TENDON Reality s.r.o. and PCTT Reality s.r.o. in the field of real estate, apartments, and commercial rentals. Through VCL Group, AS, and its subsidiaries, the group provides engineering services and supplies for various industrial sectors.

Liberty Ostrava is a major Czech steel producer, specializing in pig iron and cast iron castings; profiles, beams, and steel bars; concrete reinforcement and mining steel products; hot rolled flat steel products; rolled wire and seamless small-diameter steel pipes and steel road barriers and commodity pipes.

steelorbis.com

Founded in 1937, Roba Metals has built a strong reputation in the supply and processing of steel, stainless steel, aluminium and non-ferrous materials as well as the recycling of aluminium.

With service centers in Belgium and The Netherlands, the 100% family-owned company delivers coils, sheets and slit strips all over Europe to a broad range of customers in a.o. the construction, manufacturing, general sheet processing and automotive industry.

What sets Roba apart is its active role throughout the entire supply chain – from sourcing and melting to processing and logistics. This integrated approach enables consistent management of availability, quality and sustainability. To support customers in their transition to low-carbon manufacturing, the company also offers a range of CO2-reduced products.

Roba’s service centers are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, including cut-to-length lines, slitting lines, recoilers and grinding lines. Combined with the expertise of a dedicated team, it ensures a reliable and highly flexible service.

By investing in quality, continuity and long-term relations, Roba aims to be a trusted partner in metal.

Discover more: robametals.com

The United Kingdom government has reportedly halted efforts to negotiate Section 232 tariffs down to zero, leaving the rate at 25% for US imports of UK steel. The UK is currently the only country with a 25% rate—all others are subject to a 50% tariff rate.

A proposed deal ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to the UK this week has been shelved indefinitely, as ministers who were set to finalize a new tariff rate said the deal would have only secured 0% tariffs for a minimal quota of steel shipments, which they said would prolong uncertainty in the UK steel industry.

Ministers are reportedly seeking a permanent guarantee that tariffs on British steel exports will not exceed 25%. In June, the US and UK signed a trade deal that reduced tariffs on auto and aerospace imports to the US, but a proposal to reduce steel tariffs down to zero was put on hold due to reported concerns about circumvention from other steel-producing countries.

Trump reportedly hinted at further tariff relief ahead of his arrival in the UK on 16 September: “We’ve made a deal, and it’s a great deal, and I’m into helping them,” he said to news outlets.

In response, a UK government spokesperson issued a statement that said Britain is “continuing to work closely with the US to deliver certainty for UK industry, protect skilled jobs and support economic growth.”

The director general of UK Steel, Gareth Stace, commented to news outlets that it is “disappointing” to not have a tariff-free quota level by now, noting that it is “even more imperative now that the UK government beefs up its own trade defenses to ensure UK steelmakers have a sustainable share of their own market. In these market conditions, the last country to protect their industry will be the first to lose it.”

Steel shipments to the US comprise around 6% of all UK steel exports. For the full-year 2024, imports of steel from the UK accounted for around 0.9% of total US steel imports. Year-to-date (as of July 2025), UK steel is around 0.8% of all US steel imports.

The Northwest European rebar market was stable in the week to 17 September, with Eurofer’s recent industry outlook report demonstrating increased localisation in the European market.

Price indications for the Northwest European market were reported stable or sideways, at EUR630-640/t delivered.

McCloskey’s market sources in other steel product markets regard the space as difficult to penetrate given difficult margins, a low consumer risk appetite, and poor sentiment for the infrastructure sector, limiting the potential for new entrants to the market or speculative moves from existing players.

While policy announcements supporting potential infrastructure demand momentum should instill optimism in the market, many are very negative about European governments’ capacity to actually realise these developments, keeping positive expectations in check.

These factors are compounding regionality and market fragmentation across the rebar market, as frequent construction project delays or cancellations can see rebar distributors stuck with unwanted stock.

Domestic mills are also chasing volumes wherever possible, limited in how far they can offer discounts for volumes due to scrap and energy cost lines and a prolonged depression of trading margins, and are instead looking down the value chain to find opportunities to access consumer demand directly.

Steel producer association Eurofer’s third quarter outlook gives some insight, describing a 49% decline in rebar exports in the second quarter of 2025.

Rebar imports also decreased by 24% during the same period, which reflects tightening margins and intensified response to the European safeguard system back in early Q2. That was when 20% caps were introduced for individual exporters under residual quotas, and quota liberalization rates cut.