In the last session of the SteelOrbis Spring 2013 Conference & 68th IREPAS Meeting held on March 3-5 in Doha, suppliers and producers of long steel products and billet, as well as traders and raw material suppliers shared the conclusions reached at their special committee meetings regarding the general situation in the markets as well as their expectations for the near future with the participants at the event.
Kim Marti Subirana, international commercial director of Celsa Group and chairman of the rebar and wire rod producers' committee, stated that 2013 started slower than expected but said the year will be even better than last year as the long steel products market will gain momentum. Business in the Middle East is looking good on the back of ongoing projects, while new projects are also being started. The committee chairman pointed out that new production capacities in the Middle East are on the way and that everything seems under control.
"The Turkish long steel market seems strong with new projects and demand, the Asian markets similarly appear strong, while the situation in Africa is relatively good," he added. Business in Libya is slow at the moment but the country shows some limited signs of improvement and it is back in the game. Egypt, on the other hand, Kim Marti continued, has been experiencing some restrictions in relation to the US dollar, but business still continues in this country. Although Brazil had been expected to perform better than it actually did, the situation in this country still seems positive, as does the situation in South and Central America. Regarding North America, the committee predicts a good year.
The committee is optimistic regarding 2013 as general demand looks good globally. However, the committee also discussed import restrictions in certain countries, notably in Egypt and Morocco, which constitute a cloud in an overall clear sky.
The emerging markets continue to be important in rebar consumption, Mr. Marti continued. He stated in conclusion that long steel product volumes are looking for new markets and this is putting pressure on the markets in question. "We need to correct the supply and demand balance in order not to place pressure on markets", he said.
