EU distribution activity declines in May

Distribution activity for steel products dipped significantly during May, according to the latest data disclosed to Kallanish by regional distributors’ association EUROMETAL.

During the month shipments from European flat steel service centres dropped by -6.3% year-on-year. This pulled down the aggregated figure for the first five months of the year by -1.3%, again y-o-y.

Despite the slowdown in activity in May, the association notes that “… after some overstocking, mainly in coated products, stocks of EU steel service centres are slowly coming back to normal.”

Multi products distributors also saw distribution activity reduce slightly by -2% y-o-y in May. Sales during the first five months of the year are in line with last year’s figures for the sector, EUROMETAL says.