MEPS (International)263 Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2GZ
[t] +44 (0) 114 2750570
[f] +44 (0) 114 2759808
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MEPS (International) LTD is a leading consultancy company operating in the steel sector worldwide. The organisation was formed in 1979. Over the years we have undertaken a wide range of studies covering all aspects of the global steel scene. Our independence is the cornerstone of the business.The steel industry is the nucleus of our business. From the core activity we provide a range of services and advice to clients through our multi-disciplinary team of consultants. The areas in which our organisation has built up considerable expertise are highlighted below: Steel Market Prices
Steel Market Trends
Steel Market Distribution
Steel Manufacturing Costs
Technological Trends in Manufacture
Raw Materials
Steel Trade
Steel Products
Steel Consuming Industries
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Raw material costs, end-user demand and the aims of the producers have all influenced the stainless steel market, which currently appears to be at something of a crossroads. Demand in Korea, Taiwan and China has been much less influenced by the recession in the West. Stainless steel production has continued at levels much closer to full capacity than has been the case in Europe or North America, where the post-recession pick-up in demand is eagerly awaited. |
05 February 2010 |
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While a flurry of mill price hike announcements in December has translated into substantially higher transaction values for business recently settled in the US, the weak currency should help to keep overseas material at bay for some time to come. |
28 January 2010 |
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The steel market activity is reviewed in a range of markets in the developing world, including Turkey, UAE, India, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, the CIS and the Ukraine.
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27 January 2010 |
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While the Flat Products market in Northern Europe got off to a slow start in 2010, the situation for Long Products looks a little more positive. |
22 January 2010 |
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According to MEPS - World Steel Outlook, the quarter on quarter reduction in steel demand in the final three months of 2008 is an unprecedented figure in the history of the industry. |
21 January 2009 |
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What originally seemed to be a modest decline in output for the full year is now likely to be approaching one million tonnes - over 3 percent, according to a recent report from Stainless Steel Review. |
24 December 2008 |
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Many large three monthly contract buyers have felt let down by the steel producers in recent years and some consider that they are being penalised for their loyalty. |
18 April 2005 |
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The general weak market conditions in the strip mill segment extended into March - as customers held back on ordering due to high inventories. |
08 April 2005 |
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In the flat products category, the North American average value fell in March. The market continues to be soft. Demand is mediocre for most strip mill products but prices are holding up for cold rolled and coated products. The mills have been able to counter the recent falls in scrap prices by rises in basis values in the US. |
06 April 2005 |
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MEPS (International) forecasts global stainless crude steel output in 2005 at 25.3 million tonnes - up from 24.4 million tonnes a year earlier. This equates to an increase of 3.7 percent. We expect this year to be one of consolidation after the 7.3 percent rise in 2004 versus 2003. |
01 April 2005 |
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The MEPS World All Products Steel Price was in decline through January and February. A pick up occurred in March and is likely to continue into the third quarter before drifting downwards by the end of the year and beyond. |
31 March 2005 |
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European steel prices across the board are showing declines in March - a development that has come as a surprise to those of us who were expecting the first few months of 2005 to see steady market conditions. |
23 March 2005 |
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The monthly roundup of the steel marekt from MEPS International. |
10 March 2005 |
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Flat product prices had been in decline for five consecutive months. With
ore and coke suppliers demanding substantial price hikes in latest
settlements, the mills will make every effort to recover some of the extra
costs. The price decrease is expected to be halted soon and put into
reverse. |
10 March 2005 |
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In the flat products sector, the higher than expected raw material cost
increases have prompted us to significantly uprate our forecasts for the
next twelve months. |
09 March 2005 |
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In the flat products category, the general weak market tendency for strip mill products continued into February, as customers held back on ordering due to high inventories. |
07 March 2005 |
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MEPS (International) forecasts that world output will increase for the two main categories of steel manufacturing in its updated report 'Global Iron & Steel Production to 2008'. However, oxygen steelmaking will take a greater percentage of the total in 2008. Whilst electric and other processes will continue to slip. |
04 March 2005 |
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MEPS (International) Ltd predicts further growth in output of iron and steel
over the next four years in its updated report 'Global Iron and Steel
Production to 2008'. However, the company warns that the rate of expansion
is likely to be at a much slower pace than in recent years. |
03 March 2005 |
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The high and volatile prices of the alloy metals that go into stainless
steel are causing massive problems for both producers and consumers. Nickel
of course is the chief culprit; its price during last year ranged from a
peak of almost $US18,000 per tonne to a low of around $US10,500 per tonne. |
02 March 2005 |
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Increases in European steel values have made the EU the most expensive market in the world. This is having the inevitable consequence of attracting larger volumes of imports. We saw last year how the USA - which had the world's highest prices for much of the period - acted like a magnet for steel and imports jumped by more than 50 percent year-on-year. Consequently, US steel values slackened towards the end of 2004. The EU market might soon be in a similar position. |
01 March 2005 |
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The world's steel mills should be able to absorb recent coal and ore price
hikes. |
28 February 2005 |
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Increases in European steel values have made the EU the most expensive market in the world. This is having the inevitable consequence of attracting larger volumes of imports. We saw last year how the USA - which had the world's highest prices for much of the period - acted like a magnet for steel and imports jumped by more than 50 percent year-on-year. Consequently, US steel values slackened towards the end of 2004. The EU market might soon be in a similar position. |
21 February 2005 |
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In the flat products category, January hot strip prices fell marginally in line with our expectations. Plate figures, in contrast, drifted downwards despite booming market conditions in the US. |
11 February 2005 |
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Crude steel production in the enlarged EU-25 is expected to be finalised at 193 million tonnes in 2004. This represents a 9.7 million tonne (5.3 percent) hike on the previous year's outturn. |
11 February 2005 |
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In the flat products sector, the January rises in strip mill prices did not live up to expectations. Many buyers found themselves with adequate stocks to meet current demand levels. |
10 February 2005 |
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Long product prices in the EU have fallen sharply since our last investigation in December. A drop in the price of scrap in recent weeks has been the main influence in this trend. Bar and rod prices have fallen in the two new EU entrants, reported in this report, over the past month. The onset of Winter weather and only modest construction growth have impacted on selling values. |
09 February 2005 |
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Further price gains were made in January for all flat product categories. The increases for hot rolled coil/plate and the coated strip mill products were in line with our predictions. |
07 February 2005 |
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The remarkable upsurge in global steel prices seems to have done very little to advance the prospects of futures trading in steel. |
31 January 2005 |
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It is becoming ever clearer that steel producers and consumers can expect no relief, in the near term at least, from the upward pressure of costs for steelmaking raw materials and other inputs. While steel production rates continue rising, raw material supplies will remain tight, and that means higher costs. |
26 January 2005 |
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World crude steel production in 2004 will be close to 1050 million tonnes - an increase of 85 million tonnes (8.8 percent) on the figure recorded in the previous twelve months - following rises of 6.2 and 6.7 percent in the preceding two years, according to forecasts from MEPS. |
26 January 2005 |
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This article has been extracted from the December issue of MEPS International Steel Review |
12 January 2005 |
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The further strong rise in the value of most Asian steel prices has prompted MEPS to lift its forecasts. |
11 January 2005 |
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In the flat products category, EU purchasers are waiting as long as possible before committing themselves to forward orders for delivery in the first quarter. Many companies have high inventories to take them into the New Year. |
11 January 2005 |
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In the flat products category, inventories in the US are nearly double the figure recorded at this time last year, while the Canadian market activity remains subdued. |
11 January 2005 |
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Stainless steel prices have been expanding for the past three years. For much of the time, price hikes have recovered only the cost of raw materials. The picture changed in 2004. The mills have been able to increase the margin between the selling price and input costs. |
04 January 2005 |
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We are completing the most tumultuous year that the world’s steel markets have ever seen. Production of crude steel will exceed 1 billion tonnes for the first time. Steel consumption is at record levels. It is scarcely surprising that steel prices have been at historic highs. This is reflected in a new price series that MEPS will soon be launching.
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21 December 2004 |
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The next move for European strip mill product prices will definitely be upwards. The tone of the market has become somewhat more hesitant, although still quite firm. |
14 December 2004 |
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A recent decline in the US dollar value against most major currencies has translated into increased figures in all MEPS' Carbon Steel Price Forecasts for November. |
03 December 2004 |
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This forecasting article has been extracted from the November issue of MEPS International Steel Review
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03 December 2004 |
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A recent decline in the US dollar value against most major currencies has translated into increased figures in all our Carbon Steel Price Forecasts for November - to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon region. This is expected to also impact on the December values. |
02 December 2004 |
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The EU producers intend to raise flat products basis values on all products for deliveries in the first quarter. We expect to be reporting price hikes next month in the range 3 to 5% on transaction values. |
01 December 2004 |
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Global demand for stainless steel grew by about 7 percent in the first three quarters of this year, according to recent estimates from the producers' group, International Stainless Steel Forum. |
29 November 2004 |
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The sharp rise in the price of steel over the last year or so has come as a shock to many consumers. Users, notably construction companies and manufacturers, have been complaining about the cost of their most important raw material. Their balance-sheets have in some cases suffered a severe jolt.
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22 November 2004 |
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In its latest World Steel Outlook, MEPS forecasts world production of crude steel this year reaching 1,035 million tonnes, an increase of 7.5 percent from 2003. This implies a rise in demand for purchased scrap of about 25 million tonnes. |
16 November 2004 |
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MEPS monthly roundup of flat and long products world-wide. For flat products, in the US, real consumption remains healthy, while for long products, prices have moved up in several EU countries this month and are expected to increase further as European scrap charges are on the rise again. |
08 November 2004 |
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Average prices rose in October in all the flat product categories. The improvements in hot rolled coil/plate and hot dipped galvanised coil were slightly below our expectations. For the other products, ours and the actual figures matched. |
05 November 2004 |
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Flat products steel prices increased in most countries in October. The outturn was generally, above our predictions prepared in September. The mills were able to extract higher prices from customers who came to the bargaining table late for fourth quarter deliveries.
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04 November 2004 |
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In the flat products category, US distributors are over stocked and all speculative purchasing has ceased. Canadian activity is also subdued. Published energy surcharges are likely to increase in November but these will be difficult to realise.
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04 November 2004 |
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MEPS' prediction for global steel output in 2004 is now 1035 million tonnes. This equates to an increase of 7.5 percent on the figure recorded in 2003. This is an outrageous rate of expansion for a basic industry. |
01 November 2004 |
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Further increases in transaction prices for the start of the fourth quarter of this year, particularly in flat rolled products, show that the upward trend in European steel values has not yet run out of steam.
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28 October 2004 |
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Stainless steel production will reach another peak value in 2004. We estimate Western world steel making at 21.25 million tonnes. With revised figures for Chinese supply, this equates to global melting at 23.65 million tonnes. |
28 October 2004 |
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Over the past few months our forecasts for flat products have been lower than the actual negotiated figures. This has not only been a surprise to us but also to most steel producers. We have seen profit upgrades from many of the major North American steel mills in recent weeks as a result of the higher than expected prices obtained in the market. Rising scrap costs over the period changed market sentiment. |
03 October 2004 |
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Our forecasts for flat products in the period to September turned out to be lower than the actual figures recorded. This has not only been a surprise for us but also for many of the steel producers. Profit upgrades have been announced by the major Asian steel mills in recent weeks as a result of these higher prices. Rising scrap costs in mid year put upward pressure on prices. Consequently, some of our predicted values for flat products were below the figures actually negotiated. Scrap prices are now in decline once again. |
01 October 2004 |
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Over the past few months our forecasts for flat products have been lower than the actual negotiated figures. This has not only been a surprise to us but also to most steel producers. We have seen profit upgrades from many of the major EU steel mills in recent weeks as a result of the higher than expected prices obtained in the market. Rising scrap costs over the period changed market sentiment for all product categories over the period. As a consequence, some steel selling prices rose more than anticipated. |
01 October 2004 |
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World finished steel consumption is forecast to rise from 808 million tonnes in 2002 to 894 million tonnes in 2007 - an increase of 10.5 percent over the period. |
18 February 2003 |
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