In May 2019 shipments of EU SSC turned positive again
by Hans Diederichs
EUROMETAL’s market monitoring system is tracking EU steel distribution shipments and stocks for its two main business segments:
• Flat SSC distribution
• Multi-Product & Proximity Steel Stockholding distribution
In May 2019, shipments of EU SSC did rise by +1,0 % in a comparison with May 2018. Nevertheless, during first 5 months of 2019 shipments of EU SSC stayed negative by -1,9 % when compared to January-May 2018. The trend in SSC shipments was accompanied by a rising trend in SSC stock indices. When expressed in days of shipments, stocks at EU SSC reached 70 days in May 2019, compared to 67 days in May 2018. For May 2019, the index of stock volumes did note at index 119, to be compared with index 114 in May 2018 (average 2015 = index 100).
In May 2019 (-1,7 %) as well as in the first 5 months of 2019, EU Multi-Product & Proximity Steel Stockholding Distribution continued to note lower shipments for most products of its portfolio. Only profiles, rebars and hot rolled flats registered higher shipments. As a matter of fact, during the first 5 months of 2019, total shipments dropped by --2,5 %, year-on-year. Stock volumes index of EU Multi-Product & Proximity Steel Stockholding Distribution registered at 100 in May 2019, to be compared to an index of 101 one year before (average 2015 =Index 100). When expressed in days of shipments, stock volumes levelled in May at 76 days of shipments, unchanged when compared to May 2018.
Source: EUROMETAL Photo: Fotolia