EU distribution activity suffered in 2018: EUROMETAL

Last year the activity of steel distributors across Europe suffered, according to the latest EUROMETAL data monitored by Kallanish.

Multi-products and proximity distributors increased their shipments by 0.6% year-on-year in 2018, but flat steel service centres (SSC) saw their shipments drop by -3.1%, EUROMETAL explains.

“Shipments at SSC decelerated mainly in the second half of 2018, with mounting uncertainties regarding the perspectives of the European automotive industry and related supplier sectors,” the note explains. “For the multi-products distributors, on the other hand, positive trends in the EU construction industry were supportive to this steel distribution segment.”