Executive Summary Challenging year-end

摘要

After strengthening over the first half of 2012, global long products demand growth faltered in Q3. While some of the declines could be attributed to seasonal factors, lingering Eurozone anxieties, and concerns over the extended slowdown in the Chinese economy instilled a degree of nervousness in the key steel-consuming sectors. Only South East Asia, South Asia and the CIS posted increases in long products consumption over July-September, and global demand fell by 3.2% q/q.