Eurometal says shipments of flat products from steel service centres recovered some 2.3% year-on-year in the first quarter. During the first two months of 2022 alone, shipments actually inched down 0.2% y-o-y.
Multi-products and proximity distributors registered an opposite trend during Q1. Shipments fell 8.2% y-o-y, with only rebar and plate shipments increasing while all other products had a negative run.
Overall, the steel distribution segment in Europe is currently suffering from the uncertainty created by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the weak momentum in China. After an important jump in shipments from distributors in 2021, 2022 is expected to register a negative correction overall, Kallanish notes.
Emanuele Norsa Italy
