Die Lage am Stahlmarkt: Hoffnung auf Besserung im kommenden Jahr
The iron and steel sector currently suffers from weak demand and globally low capacity utilization. World crude steel production grows at a low pace. For 2013 and 2014 economic conditions can be expected to improve which feeds into higher crude steel production. It is forecasted to increase by 1.8% in 2013 and 4% in 2014. In Germany capacity utilization is higher than in most other European countries, although production stagnates for more than two years now. With the expected economic upswing crude steel production will increase again, but only slowly. For 2013 production is forecasted to go down slightly to 42.2 mill. t, for 2014 an increase to 42.6 mill t is expected. More than from weak demand the steel sector currently suffers from low steel prices given the still rather high raw material costs.
Döhrn, R. (2013), Die Lage am Stahlmarkt: Hoffnung auf Besserung im kommenden Jahr. RWI Konjunkturberichte, 64, 2, 19-27