United Kingdom

摘要

The major fire that disabled Corus's No 5 blast furnace at Port Talbot is causing a greater disturbance than first thought likely. Not only is there no estimated date for re-commissioning, but a decision has yet to be taken as to whether the furnace will have to be completely re-built. In the mean time Corus is in the market for slab. No 5 accounted for about a third of Port Talbot hot metal production and there are insufficient spare supplies from Tees-side and IJmuiden to make good the loss.It might be thought that this is a good time to be seeking slab in the present market, with slab quoted at 145/t dollars or less from Brazil or further afield. Corus wants high grade slab, much of it IFS for deep-drawing car body sheet. There should be tonnage available (the company has not disclosed how much it will need, but 200,000 tonnes or more would not be unlikely) since demand from EU carmakers is off the peak, but the price will be up to 190/t dollars fob.