As a result of extending lead-times and higher capacity utilisation rates, Outokumpu Stainless is increasing prices of all austenitic and ferritic cold rolled sheet and coil, hot rolled continuously produced plate, quarto plate effective for all deliveries from 1^st April 2010.

Material supplied from all stock routes, including our Service Centres, will be subject to the same price increase with immediate effect.

The detailed price increases are as follows:

• Austenitic CR sheet / coil                                £60 per tonne increase

• Ferritic CR sheet / coil                                     £40 per tonne increase

• Continuously produced plate                         £70 per tonne increase

• Quarto Plate                                                  £70 per tonne increase

This shows the first clear sign that demand is increasing and the mills are confident of a stronger market, especially as this comes on the back of rising surcharges. What we will have to wait and see if how Thyssen Krupp and Acerinox respond as these increases are repeated in Europe where a similar announcement is expected next week.

Prices where forecast here to bounce back in 2010.

A snapshot is listed below:-

1.4301 (304) 1173 EUR /987 GBP

1.4404 (316) 1962 EUR / 1713 GBP

1.4541 (321) 1343  EUR /  1173 GBP

1.4016 (430) 273  EUR / 238  GBP

Beyond the surcharges there are rumours coming from the leading mills that base increases are expected to increase for new deliveries from April and announcement could be made as soon as the 1st of March, similar signs are coming from the US where Universal stainless announced increases this week of 5% , and similar increases in Turkey.

Scrap prices are also rising in Korea, Japan, Saudi and Spain. Although the stainless steel market may still be lacking the demand required to sustain strong gains the European mills having moved out of a terrible 12 months now feel the time is right to start to profit again from stainless steel.

This is an ideal opportunity for a mill or distributor to dispose of large quantities of off cut coils generated during the manufacture and slitting of stainless steel coils to the final size. If anybody has interest in supply this material please contact trade@stainlesssteel.me and we will pass on any stock list or details in total confidentiality.

This is a great way to recycle material and reduce the carbon footprint by not having to melt this potential scrap product and also save money for both parties.

Posco stainless steel production

POSCO’s CRC stainless steel mill with the capacity of 400,000 tons started into production on December 16. Spokesman of POSCO said that it is a main body for the company’s strategy in adjusting the products structure.

The CRC mill began to be started in August and tried out production in November. The output had input in domestic market.

The market participant involving in the project said that the first batch of 3,000-4,000 tons production put into market with discount price, but with the formal operation of the mill, the price will resume to the normal level.

It was originally established in 2005, but taking the overcapacity of the stainless steel into consideration, the project was delayed. Presently POSCO has a stainless steel capacity of 3mln tons, including the output of 1mln tons from ZPSS.

Other media spread the news that another stainless steel manufacturing enterprise in South Korea-BNG Steel intends to set up a stainless steel mill in January of 2010.

South Korea domestic traders of stainless steel said that although the supply has saturated in South Korea stainless steel market, they are not worried about the extra production from the new mill. The monopoly stance of POSCO in the stainless steel market made it not expect the price down, therefore, the difference between the import price of China and South Korea domestic price ensured POSCO profitable. Take 304 stainless steel for an example, the sales price of 304 HRC in South Korea domestic market is 3.05mln Won per ton (U.S.$2,628 per ton) and CRC price is at 3.32mln Won per ton (U.S.$2,861 per ton),in the same period, the FOB price of Shanxi TISCO 304 CRC stands at U.S.$2,600 per ton and HRC price is at U.S.$2,450 per ton.

ministry has decided not to levy anti-dumping duties on imports of certain products of the alloy steel.

In April, the government had imposed a duty across stainless steel categories of between $12.74 per tonne and $2,200 per tonne. The duty is imposed on steel coming to India from a host of countries including China (the largest exporter), US and Europe. Now, duty has been exempted for producs below 600 mm thickness and those above 1,250 mm.

“The Indian commerce ministry, in its final recommendations on anti-dumping duty on stainless steel products, has excluded imports of certain grades and sizes of stainless steel items from the list. Thus, we may now look at reviving our plans to set up a service centre in the country,” Outokumpu vice-president for growth markets Kell Hansen said

Jessica Ennis – World Heptathlon Champion 2009 – Made in Steel City Sheffield famous for the first production of stainless steel
I was made in Sheffield. From the Don Valley Stadium, where the smell of the track can still transport me back to being a ten-year-old girl sitting on the concrete steps, to the Peace Gardens, where I was presented with my own box of Sheffield steel after striking gold at the World Championships, this city is part of me.

It is where I am happiest, which is why, when UK Athletics were restructuring at the beginning of last year and wanted me to move to one of their centres of excellence in London, I found the situation very stressful.

I didn’t see any sense or logic. Things were going so well that I did not want to mess up the balance. I don’t like conflict and shirk away from it, but if it’s something I feel passionate about then I will stand my ground. When I did, Charles van Commenee, our head coach, totally understood. I am driven. Part of that is my personality, but part of it is down to where I grew up and the people and experiences that shaped me.

Vote for Jessica in the BBC sports personality of the year

Full Article from the times

 A snapshot is listed below:-

1.4301 (304) 1005 EUR /904 GBP

1.4404 (316) 1547 EUR / 1391 GBP

1.4541 (321) 1143  EUR /  1028 GBP

1.4016 (430) 246  EUR / 221  GBP

For full details of all the grades Outokumpu