Markets in Europe

摘要

The weak dollar is continuing to blunt the competitiveness of EU exporters in both US markets and in the rest of the world. It has a direct effect in steel markets. Well-established export lines, such as the closely specified grades for which US customers won exemptions under the terms of Section 201, have been thriving, but there has been no return to earlier volumes for the great mass of products. Arrivals from the EU reported in the latest US customs figures cover January, which would reflect deals closed before Section 201 was rescinded and when US prices were relatively low, so it is not surprising that tonnages were small - at 257,000 tonnes 9.6 percent below even the low level reached in January 2003. However, there seem to be few post-Section 201 deals being struck.