Category: Latest Updates

This week’s Blechexpo trade fair in Stuttgart, Germany, is traditionally an occasion during which contracts are agreed for coil supply for the coming years.

The market leader mill has signalled that its prices for the next half-year will be close to €200/tonne ($233) above those fetched during the last negotiating round in May, says a buyer of a German cold-roller company. He adds he is not yet sure if he will be striking a deal at the fair, as he believes that the downtrend on the spot market is continuing. He is convinced that “there will still be offers coming after the fair”.

The coming days will show to what extent current spot prices will be a guideline, and where they actually are. Some observers foresee a price resurgence or stabilisation, like a buyer of a southern German distributor who tells Kallanish of rising prices from Russia, which would have repercussions on EU players.

In fact, he finds that buyers have done well if they have struck a contract prior to the fair. This is quite contrary to the attitude of waiting-and-seeing that has prevailed among buyers since the summer, while mills kept pushing. “If you haven’t signed yet, you may pay €20-30 more for your deal at the Blechexpo than a couple of weeks earlier,” he believes.

Even if the higher import offers turn out to be temporary, some insiders believe, for other reasons, that there will be a stabilisation in the coming weeks, a Dutch manager says. “We expect that consumers and other buyers will soon have to go back into the market to replenish their stocks. This will improve demand at least to some extent,” he comments.

Christian Koehl Germany

The EU must take immediate action to secure magnesium supply, with stocks on course to run out by end-November, threatening production stoppages across various industries, including steel, European industry representatives warn.

The shortage is being caused by reduced supply of magnesium from China. Due to the Chinese government’s efforts to curb domestic power consumption, supply of magnesium originating there has either been halted or reduced drastically since September.

The EU sources 95% of its magnesium requirement from China, meaning the European aluminium, iron and steel producing and using industries, together with their raw materials suppliers are particularly impacted. This will have a knock-on effect on end-use sectors such as automotive, construction and packaging, says a cross-industry group including steelmakers’ association Eurofer.

The current Chinese supply shortfall has already resulted in record prices and worldwide distortions in the supply chain. Today’s remaining EU magnesium imports are trading at “extortionate prices” of about $10,000-14,000/tonne, up from some $2,000/t earlier this year. This “makes it almost impossible for European companies to produce or source magnesium-containing materials at a viable level,” the group says in a note sent to Kallanish.

“To that effect, our industries jointly call on the EU Commission and national governments to urgently work towards immediate actions with their Chinese counter parties to mitigate the short-term, critical shortage issue as well as the longer-term supply effects on European industries,” the note reads.

Annual global magnesium demand is 1.2 million tonnes, with 87% produced and 39% consumed by China. Europe and North America each consume around 19%. The iron and steel industry accounts for 16% of magnesium usage in Europe. Aluminium alloying has the highest share of 45%, followed by die casting with 33%.

Adam Smith Germany

Mañana tenemos el webinar sobre transformación digital, con Kaltenbach y Lantek, a las 12:00 horas. 

Aquí les proporcionamos el enlace para que puedan conectarse; será esta vez a través de Teams, no es necesario que se instalen nada, sólo tienen que pinchar en el siguiente enlace.

Recordamos aquí la agenda de mañana:

12:00 a 13:00 horas

• Bienvenida
• “Impulsa tu almacén”- Kaltenbach Solutions– D. Valentin Kaltenbach
• Preguntas
• “Eficiencia y trazabilidad”-  Lantek Sheet Metal Solutions– D. Javier Ortega
• Preguntas
• Despedida

In order to advance the digitalisation of the steel industry on a broad front, it is becoming increasingly necessary to break new ground together. Close cooperation with the excellently organised industry associations in Europe is an important step towards mastering the diverse current challenges. The regular open exchange of technical knowledge and practical know-how strengthens all companies, consolidates good relations at international level and secures the future of steel as a sustainable material.

Rising electricity costs, interrupted supply chains, lack of raw materials and a noticeable shortage of skilled workers are current problems that are not only weighing heavily on the steel industry. In addition, demands from politicians for C02 neutrality, e-mobility, sustainable construction and compliance with energy efficiency standards are increasing the pressure on companies. Difficulties in the supply of raw materials in particular have shown the importance of good international relations for German companies. Looking beyond one’s own nose is essential for survival.

Organisations such as EUROMETAL at European level, the Bundesverband Deutscher Stahlhandel BDS AG in Germany, the Swiss Steel and Building Technology Trade Association SSHV, ARGE-SMD in Austria or UAHE in Spain are working with great commitment to give steel the recognition it deserves on the basis of its properties. KALTENBACH.SOLUTIONS actively supports these and other associations and openly shares its own expertise in the field of IoT and AI-based performance management for the steel market with the industry. Numerous presentations at international congresses and free online workshops present new perspectives and digital solutions to decision-makers and implementers. The focus is on concrete costs and measurable benefits. Together, the aim is to strengthen companies and promote communication across national borders.

Current workshops and lectures at: https://www.kaltenbach-solutions.com/termine

À l’occasion du concours Construction Acier 2021 Luxembourg, le bâtiment qui abrite le siège social de Cargolux a été nommé lauréat par le jury.

Le centre belge d’information sur l’acier, les produits en acier et la construction métallique, Infosteel, organise tous les ans, alternativement au Luxembourg et en Belgique, un concours récompensant les bâtiments utilisant la construction en acier de manière remarquable. Pour cette édition 2021, c’est le quartier général de Cargolux à Sandweiler qui a été nommé lauréat par le jury. Ce projet a été réalisé par le bureau d’architecture AS+P Albert Speer + Partner et les ingénieurs-conseils du bureau AuCARRÉ.

Le nouveau quartier général de Cargolux se situe à côté de son hangar de maintenance et se compose de plusieurs ouvrages métalliques: un parking à multiples étages, une passerelle-cantine, un hall des simulateurs et un anneau de bureaux surplombant l’ensemble en générant de grands porte-à-faux (40,5m). Le jury a particulièrement salué dans ce projet l’utilisation de l’acier qui est poussée dans ses performances techniques et permet aux ingénieurs d’exprimer pleinement leur talent, notamment dans l’élaboration de l’anneau en acier massif. 

Un prix spécial du jury et un prix du public

Outre le lauréat, le jury a également distingué par un prix spécial du jury le projet de réhabilitation du château de Koerich par Fabeck Architectes. Le jury a particulièrement apprécié l’approche honnête et tout en finesse réalisée par l’architecte avec la structure en acier qui est réversible, point important étant donné le contexte patrimonial.

Vue de l’intervention de Fabeck Architectes dans les ruines du château de Koerich. (Photo: Fabeck architectes)

18 projets au total avaient été introduits pour participer à cette 22^e édition du concours.  Quatre projets ont été sélectionnés par le jury pour participer à la phase finale du concours. C’est parmi ces quatre projets que le public a été invité à faire connaître sa préférence pour désigner le prix du public. Outre le siège de Cargolux et le château de Koerich, étaient également en lice le siège mondial de Ferrero, Casa Ferrero à Niederanven, et les bureaux de DSL à Steinsel.

Pour le prix du public, le vote a désigné Casa Ferrero comme lauréat parmi les 700 votes exprimés.

Vue du siège mondial de Ferrero, Casa Ferrero. (Photo: Ferrero)

Tous les projets participants seront publiés dans le magazine Infosteel qui sort le 1^er décembre.

The 2021 event organized the 21 October by Tata Steel discussed the developments in steel markets during 2021 and what the implications might be in industry sectors. Experts highlighted the challenges and opportunities these recent market developments provide for the industry: In steel and its markets, what have been the biggest learnings from 2021? What should we now expect to see in the automotive industry, engineering and in construction over the short, medium and long term? Sustainability: Steel will play a key role in creating a more sustainable society. Will price trends facilitate the industry to make the necessary investments to address the carbon challenge?  Digitalisation: Processes are becoming automated creating time for value added activities. Will this mean a more efficient supply chain and how will doing business be made easier?  Technology: We will focus specifically on the EV battery segment, gigafactory growth and the opportunities and challenges this might present industry. The event had over 200 guests joining from around the world with wide representation from a broad range of steel-using industries. All of the event is available to watch now on the Tata Steel YouTube page in the Let’s talk about the future playlist

Ob die Gewinnung neuer Fachhandelspartner, die Stärkung des Netzwerkes oder weitere Tonnagezuwächse – all diese und noch viele weitere Ziele hat der Stahlverbund PHOENIX trotz der Corona-Einschränkungen erreicht. Das spiegelt sich sowohl in Tonnage als auch im Geschäftsvolumen wider. Mit weiteren Lockerungen und einem verbindlichen, vorsorglichen Hygienekonzept werden Aktivitäten zudem wieder vermehrt ins „echte Leben“ verlagert.

„Wir haben euch vermisst!“

„Es hat sich wie ein Klassentreffen angefühlt“: mit dieser Aussage eines Handelspartners lässt sich die Stimmung bei der ersten Präsenzveranstaltung des Stahlverbunds seit 790 Tagen ziemlich genau auf den Punkt bringen. Am 31. August 2021 war es soweit. Rund 150 Gäste aus dem In- und Ausland, dem Kreise der Handels-und Lieferantenpartner, kamen in Dortmund zusammen – natürlich begleitet durch ein modernes Hygienekonzept. Lockerer Austausch, ein Status-Update zur geschäftlichen Entwicklung von NORWDEST und ein spannender Vortrag von Branchenkenner Andreas Schneider (Stahlmarkt Consult) standen im Mittelpunkt des Tages, der von vielen herbeigesehnt wurde – versprach er doch ein Stück weit wiedergewonnene Normalität.

Ende Oktober findet das Treffen der Silber-Fachhandelspartner des Stahlverbunds statt. Gezielt wird auch die Mailänder Messe „Made in Steel“ dahingehend genutzt, spezifische Gespräche mit den bestehenden sowie potentiellen neuen Fachhandels- und Lieferantenpartnern zu führen. Die Wahlen für den Stahlbeirat und die Produktausschusssitzungen finden ebenfalls im Herbst statt. Dabei bestimmen die Handelspartner des Stahlverbunds in Eigenverantwortung ihre Vertreter in den entsprechenden Gremien: Die ist Basis des NORDWEST-Vertrauenskonzeptes.

Ein sogenannter Stahltisch, ein virtueller Stammtisch zum Austausch von Branchenneuigkeiten, wird demnächst monatlich stattfinden. Und auch für 2022 gibt es schon Pläne: Dann will der Stahlverbund PHOENIX auf der Tube & Wire in Düsseldorf mit einem Stand vertreten sein.„Bei all dem, was wir tun, behalten wir den Netzwerkgedanken im Fokus. Pandemiebedingt waren uns Präsenzveranstaltungen leider nicht möglich, wir konnten aber trotzdem den Funktionen des Stahlverbunds und unseren Aufgaben nachkommen. Umso mehr freut es uns, dass wir Handels- und Lieferantenpartner nun wieder live erleben dürfen“, erklären Claudio Kemper und Christopher Rüther, beide Geschäftsbereichsleiter Stahl.

Rekordjagd auf die Tonnage

Von Rekord zu Rekord jagt die über den Stahlverbund PHOENIX abgewickelte Tonnage per Juli 2021. Sie konnte somit entgegen aller Prognosen in nahezu allen Produktbereichen gesteigert werden: Mit 1.258 T to liegt sie +7,0% ggü. VJ. Das daraus resultierende Geschäftsvolumen für den Bereich Stahl lag damit bei 1.153 Mio. € und +47,5% ggü. VJ.

„Neben der positiven Bestandskundenentwicklung konnten wir in den vergangenen Monaten vier neue Fachhandelspartner in den Stahlverbund integrieren. Zusätzlich konnten auch weitere Bezugsquellen erschlossen werden“, erklären die bei den Geschäftsbereichsleiter.

Ein Motor der Entwicklung ist das außergewöhnliche und volumengestiegene Importgeschäft im Bereich Edelstahl/Rostfrei. All diese Entwicklungen lassen den Stahlverbund PHOENIX beflügelt in den Herbst starten.

Quelle und Foto: NORDWEST Handel AG

18.10.2021 von Hubert Hunscheidt

Spanish steel sector activity has slowed after a strong recovery in the first half of this year. Production fell sequentially for the second consecutive month in August, amid the summer holiday season, reaching its second-lowest volume so far this year, Kallanish notes.

According to Spanish steelmakers’ association Unesid, the local steel industry produced around 1.05 million tonnes of crude steel that month. This was 3.6% down over July’s output of 1.09mt but 48% higher on-year, and also 2% more when compared to the pre-Covid-19 August 2019.

Crude steel production in August was just 20,000t above the 2021-low in January. During the first eight months of the year, Spanish monthly output ranged from 1.05mt to 1.35mt, data show.

Year-to-date through August, the country’s crude steel production reached 9.57mt. Unesid did not disclose an on-year comparison in its latest report, but taking worldsteel figures into account, the growth is estimated at 43.8%.

Spain used 857,000 tonnes of ferrous scrap for steelmaking in August, up 4.6% month-on-month. This volume was also up 36% and 19% over the same month in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Cumulative scrap usage was 7.56mt, representing 79% of total crude steel production in the eight-month period.

Todor Kirkov Bulgaria

Monthly alloy surcharges on nickel-bearing stainless steel flat-rolled products in Europe are set to fall for the first time in six months in November, the first mill announcement indicated Oct. 21.

Finland’s Outokumpu, the continent’s largest stainless steel producer, set its alloy adjustment factor for type 303 (4301) flat products at €2,187/mt ($2,545/mt) for November, down €6/mt from October — the first month-on-month fall since May.

Three-months nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange hit seven-year highs above $20,000/mt on Sept. 10 before dropping sharply to three-month lows below $18,000/mt by the end of the month. Prices have subsequently recovered in October, breaching $21,000/mt this week.

Outokumpu’s surcharge for molybdenum-bearing type 316 (4401) flat products was set at €3,383/mt for November, down €43 from the previous month.

Molybdenum oxide prices surged above $20/lb to their highest levels in almost 13 years in early September on the back of tight supply and healthy demand. Prices subsequently eased back to hit two-month lows in early October; as of Oct. 21 the Platts daily oxide assessment stood at $19.10-$19.70/lb.

Outokumpu’s surcharge for nickel-free type 430 flat products is up €15 for November to €980/mt.

Ferrochrome prices have strengthened in recent months, with the European benchmark ferrochrome price settling at 180 cents/lb for the fourth quarter of 2021, up 15% from the third-quarter rollover level of 156 cents/lb.

— Andy Blamey

Germany’s Salzgitter said Oct. 21 it will start supplying low-emissions certified steel to German appliance maker Miele Group, starting next month, for a pilot program.

Miele is seeking to reduce its carbon emissions footprint, and from November plans to source just under 24 mt/month of low CO2 steel for use in tops of stoves and ovens with a diameter of 60 cm, the company said in a statement.

High-end appliance manufacturer Miele joins other premium German brands like Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau and Neff testing low-emissions steel from Salzgitter to meet sustainability targets and appeal to certain consumers.

“Green steel products are eliciting ever keener interest from our customers operating in a wide range of sectors,” Ulrich Grethe, CEO of Salzgitter Flachstahl said in the statement. “We are pleased that our low CO2 steel products meet the company’s [Miele] high quality standards.”

The steel will come from Salzgitter Group’s Peine electric arc furnace, and will be rolled and galvanized at the Salzgitter Flachstahl works in central Germany, it said. Salzgitter is offering steel produced from ferrous scrap, with certified emissions reductions compared with higher emissions from blast furnace-based steel, ahead of future plans to use green hydrogen and direct reduction iron to replace coal and met coke and slash emissions further.

“The CO2 emissions generated by the manufacturing process are reduced by more than 66% in this material through harnessing climate compatible sources of energy and steel scrap,” it said. “In taking this step, Miele is making a first contribution to lowering emissions in the domain of purchased goods and services (Scope 3.1) and taking an important step toward implementing its ambitious sustainability goals.”

Before the end of 2021, Gutersloh-based Miele will be operating in a carbon neutral manner across all its locations in terms of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, while it targets by 2030 lowering its emissions from the utilization phase of Miele appliances by 15%, which accounts for a major part of its Scope 3 emissions, it added.

The steel from ferrous scrap cuts the carbon footprint of galvanized steel by 66% compared with the conventional production of steel via the blast furnace route, as verified by TUV SUD using 2018 data for comparisons, it said.

— Hector Forster