Europe's Shifting Position In The Global Steel Trade

摘要

First, this paper examines the growth patterns of world apparent steel consumption (ASC) andexports in relation to the corresponding patterns in the EU. Our results suggest that steel trade ingeneral was growing and will probably continue to grow much faster than ASC. This is animmediate consequence of the trend towards globalisation. Second, the EU’s seeminglyirreversible shifting position to a net importer is highlighted.These two fundamental statements form the basis supporting the strategic choices of expansionsand mergers of the big European steel players.