According to the Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2014-2015/Q2 2014 Report from the Economic Committee of the European Steel Association (EUROFER), EU steel tube output fell by just 0.6 percent year on year in the fourth quarter of 2013. In particular, output in Germany and France decreased sharply, basically because of weak demand for large diameter tubes for pipeline construction.
EUROFER stated that first data and estimates for production activity in the first quarter this year indicate basically a marginal increase of around 0.5 percent year on year in EU steel tube output.
Final demand from key user sectors of small welded and seamless steel tubes such as the construction, automotive and metal goods industry should improve in line with the expected rise in activity in these sectors. On the other hand, prospects for the large welded tube segment are cautiously brightening owing to the start-up of the South Stream project. While German producers will supply a substantial part of direct deliveries for the first line, unfortunately EU suppliers have not been selected for the second line, EUROFER said.
According to EURFOER, EU production of steel tubes is expected to rise by almost five percent in 2014 and by four percent in 2015.
