EU steel service centre shipments fall in July

Shipments by EU steel service centres (SSC) fell year-on-year in July 2018, European steel distributors’ association Eurometal tells Kallanish. By contrast, despatched material from EU Multi-Product & Proximity Steel Stockholding distributors grew sharply in the month.

In July 2018, shipments of EU SSC distribution dropped by -3.1 % when compared with July 2017, the association confirms. For the first seven months of 2018, year-to-date shipments also fell in total y-o-y by -2.2%. After witnessing relatively high inventories at the turn of the year, mainly in coated products, stocks at EU SSC have now returned to normal.

When expressed in days of shipments, stocks at EU SSC averaged in July 2018 at 70 days, compared to 71 days in July 2017. For same month, the stock volumes’ index moved from 116 in July 2017 to 114 in July 2018 (average 2015=index 100).

EU Multi-Product & Proximity Steel Stockholding Distribution meanwhile noted significantly higher shipments for most of its product portfolio, Eurometal says. Only rebar has noted a slight decrease in sales. Total shipments from this segment rose by 7.5% y-o-y. For the first seven months therefore material shipped rose, but more modestly, by 1.0% on-year.

The stock volumes’ index at EU Multi-Product & Proximity Steel Stockholding Distribution rose to 105 in July 2018, compared to 101 one year before. When expressed in days of shipments, stock volumes in July 2018 came in at 78 days of shipments, compared with 83 days in July 2017.