The hot-rolled (HR) and cold-rolled (CR) steel sheet markets in Russia's central region around Moscow remained weak this week on lower demand than expected during the summer period.
The World Cup football tournament, hosted in Russia (June 14-July 15), has had an effect on market activity as well, sources told Metal Bulletin. "Demand was lower than expected even in early June before the World Cup started, now the market has slowed down even more," one trader told Metal Bulletin. Truck traffic is restricted in Moscow and around the city during the World Cup, which has slowed down market activity, one source said. Metal Bulletin's weekly assessment of...