EUROMETAL: November European flats shipments from service centers up 8.9% on year

Flat steel shipments from EU service centers rose 8.9% year on year in November 2020 as a buoyant market continued from the month prior while stocks fell, service center and distributors’ association EUROMETAL reported late Jan. 18.

The November index of stock volumes of flat steel dropped to 87 from 105 in November 2019.

Expressed in days of shipments, stocks at steel service centers reached 57 days compared with 75 days in November 2019.

Over January-November, shipments fell 12% on the year. However, shipments improved since October as the fourth quarter saw increased activity.

Stockholders’ distribution of multi-product and proximity steel – including long steel – also saw further upticks, although on a lower level than flat steel. Shipments in the January-November period dropped 9.7% on the year, but November shipments were up 3.4% year on year. Merchant bars and strip mill products had a positive trend, according to EUROMETAL.

Stock volumes of multi and proximity steel dropped to 67 days of shipments compared with 75 days in November 2019.

— Laura Varriale