Spain-based stainless steel producer Acerinox is hopeful that positive effects will be seen in the European market arising from the safeguarding measures announced by the European Commission on July 18.
The producer noted in its 2018 half-year financial results, released on July 27, that stainless steel import volumes into Europe have been high and that this has exerted downward pressure on prices.According to the company, imports of flat stainless products continued to increase in the first half of 2018, by 12.5%, to reach a market share of 29%, up from 26% in the first half of 2017."This increase can be explained by the market anticipating safeguard measures, which will constrain imports, so that we can expect a return to normality in the second half of the year," the financial report said."Looking at individual countries, Taiwan is still the main source of cold-rolled product with nearly 23% of the...