A steady course in rough seas--Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel GmbH looks towards 2010 with cautious optimism

摘要

stahlmarkt: 《The crisis has the steel industry tight in its grip》 was often heard at many conferences earlier this year. How has your company been affected by this situation in recent months? M Volker Schult: Of course we are affected by the current market problems. This includes high inventories in comparison to the weak demand and additionally the value of the stocks which is much too high in relation to the current market situation and restocking possibilities. The credit insurers aren't making our live easier. And cost cutting is on everyone's mind. Bearing all this in mind, there is currently a difficult profit situation. But, as a member of the financially solid Salzgitter Group, we are not pressed by liquidity problems like some other competitors in the market might be. And in the past "good years" we provided for the future.