Western Europe--After a depressing December, market activity has started to increase

摘要

Following the trend apparent throughout the fourth quarter of 2008, stainless steel flat products demand in Europe weakened further during December; by more in fact than some market participants had expected. Whilst orders for prompt shipments at leading mills were characteristically weak - as users continued to de-stock for end-of-year accounting purposes - enquiries for first quarter 2009 deliveries were depressingly scarce, particularly in the UK, where the short-term outlook seems especially bleak.