The shipbuilding industry in China falters
Monday, 24 August 2020
The new vessel orders in China sank in the first seven months of this year, highlighting the underlying weak demand chiefly caused by the epidemic. The national shipbuilders secured new vessel orders proportionate to around 14 million deadweight tonnes (dwt) during January-July this year, fell by 4.8% year-year basis, according to China Association of the
- Published in Steel
Steel slab prices are on the rise
Thursday, 18 June 2020
The impact of the coronavirus outbreak is still high in various parts of the world. In Europe, the steel market is slowly returning to normal in key countries, such as Germany, France and Italy, but it is still far from pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, Eurofer has requested a 75% cut to the import quotas to help
- Published in Steel
The global steel market is still not out of the woods
Monday, 25 May 2020
The negative impact of the COVID-19 on the steel market is expected to continue around the world over the next three months. The number of coronavirus cases has been growing rapidly in various countries, such as the US, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. As a result, we anticipate that finished steel demand is going to
- Published in Steel
Cement market faces uncertainty in the short term
Thursday, 07 May 2020
Lockdown created a tougher environment for cement producers around the world. Some governments have now realised the importance of the cement industry and included cement manufacturers to the exemption list though others are still contemplating. However, the exemption is not enough to drive the cement supply to normalcy. The issue is hydra-headed and goes deep
- Published in Construction
Shipbuilding and Steel Plate Market
Thursday, 30 April 2020
Impact of coronavirus on shipbuilding The global shipbuilding industry has been in doldrums due to the falling demand caused by COVID-19. In the first quarter of 2020, global orders for new vessels declined by 70% year-on-year to nearly 2.4 million compensated gross tonnage (CGT). It is ascertained that investment in the shipbuilding industry also hit
- Published in Steel
Electrical steel industry faces headwinds
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
The global electrical steel industry will remain subdued in the short term due to challenges posed by COVID-19. Electrical steel demand is ascertained to have declined in key end-users such as appliances, transformers and automotive. Development works on most renewable projects are placed on hold due to disruptions in the supply chain as countries imposed
- Published in Steel
Plastic and metal packaging demand is set to rise
Friday, 24 April 2020
The global packaging market, particularly plastic and metal, is expected to see additional growth in the short to medium terms. This renewed growth would be owed to drastic changes in consumer behaviour. COVID-19 is expected to strongly influence consumer behaviour and encourage shoppers to buy packaged items in order to prevent virus transmission. This trend
- Published in Packaging
Slab prices hit the bottom
Wednesday, 22 April 2020
Slab prices have nearly hit bottom in April and continued its downward trajectory in almost all major markets. Prices have now very little room for further decline. We expect prices to remain range-bound in the short term before turning the corner in May. Commodity Inside expects that any new waves of the COVID-19 outbreak in
- Published in Steel
The global pandemic is to remain a drag on TVs sales
Monday, 20 April 2020
Global sales of TVs are expected to fall by around 4% in 2020 compared to 2019, reaching 220 million units. The fall is primarily linked to the coronavirus outbreak across the world. Major consumer electronics outlets in major markets have been closed as they fall under the nonessential products category. Meanwhile, several TV manufacturers also
- Published in Energy
Calls for circumvention duties on electrical steel (GOES) imports from Canada and Mexico
Friday, 17 April 2020
Electrical steel needs protections from imported materials, a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday urged President Trump in a letter sent on 15th April 2020. The letter was signed by two dozen members of Congress, many from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Both states are home to AK Steel, currently the sole producer of electrical steel. The
- Published in Steel