Germany-based service centre Damstahl issued their latest report “Stainless Steel Report April 2013” which indicated that in 2012, European stainless crude steel production amounted approximately to 7.5 million mt, falling around 1%compared to 2011. The strongest decrease reported was in Germany and Sweden. In January of this year, European crude steel production remained stable compared to the corresponding month of 2012 that saw the third-highest monthly production level recorded in 2012.
According to the report, the stainless steel market in Europe has slowed in February and March. Uncertainty still prevails about the rest of 2013. However, Damstahl said that the situation in northern Europe is quite different from that in south-western Europe. Demand from German, Dutch, Austrian and Czech fabricators actually improved in March this year, while stainless steel demand in countries such as Italy, Spain and also France remained at subdued levels.
