Demand remains weak in most countries. Despite hopes of a September uptick, most observers anticipate no significant increase in activity in the remaining months of the year.
Nevertheless, buyers in several regions believe that the market has reached its lowest point and confirm that stainless producers are proposing price increases for third-quarter bookings.
Weak demand, particularly in China, continues to limit purchasing activity in Asia.
In Europe, buyers are placing smaller but more frequent orders with the mills while attempting to rebalance their stocks. Inventories in the region are decreasing but at a much slower rate than had been anticipated.
The mood in the US market is more positive, but distributor restocking is still at a low level.
Several stainless mills have altered their production schedules to cut output due to the lack of orders.
Market participants in the United States and Europe reported hearing of mill capacity utilisation rates of between 60 and 70 percent.
However, delivery lead times for commodity grades in standard sizes are short in all regions. They have extended into September in Europe, mainly as a result of the summer maintenance shutdowns.
Producers anticipate that a post-holiday uptick in demand combined with reduced output will support a rise in prices. The current selling values, according to some mills in Europe and Asia, are unsustainable.
Buyers report that Chinese prices have risen in recent days, particularly for hot rolled material. Prices in other Asian countries are likely to follow the upward trend.
The European mills are attempting to boost the price of grade 304 coils by €50 to €150 per tonne by the end of September.
