EUROPEAN STEEL DISTRIBUTION SHIPMENTS NOTED A DIVE DURING SEPTEMBER 2016 AFTER A RISE DURING AUGUST 2016

EUROMETAL’s unique market monitoring system is tracking EU steel distribution shipments and stocks for its two main business segments:

• Flat SSC distribution
• Multi-Product & Proximity Stockholding distribution

EU Flat SSC Distribution

EU shipments by flat SSC distribution came under pressure in September 2016 when they dipped by -3 % in a year-on-year comparison. During 3.Quarter 2016, shipments slipped down by -3% y-o-y, after a positive trend during the first half year 2016.

For the first 9 months of 2016, SSC shipments noted a rise of +2 %, year-on-year.

Stock volumes with EU SSC, when expressed in days of sales, noted 62 days in September 2016, compared with 58 days in September 2015.  In September 2016, EU Multi-Product & Proximity Stockholding Distribution noted a decrease in shipments in  main product lines, except for plates and for galvanized and other coated flats.

September shipments noted a drop of -6 % year-on-year. During 3. Quarter 2016, shipments decreased by -5 % y-o-y. Growth rate for the first 9 months 2016 lowered to +2 % in a year-on-year comparison.

Stocks of EU Multi-Product & Proximity Steel Stockholding Distribution, expressed in days of sales, reached 75 days in September 2016, compared with 72 days one year before in September 2015.

EUROMETAL is the European Federation of Steel, Tubes and Metals Distribution & Trade. EUROMETAL, on EU level, has developed over the last decade a representative and unique market monitoring system for EU steel distribution.

EU steel distribution & trade account for 5 000 companies, mostly small and medium sized enterprises, providing jobs to 110 000 people in the EU. EU steel distributors, SSC and traders are systemic players in EU steel markets, supplying 80 million tons of steel, tubes and metals to EU end use sectors. They account for more than 60 % of the supply in steel and tubes of EU manufacturing industries and of EU construction related sectors