The European stainless steel market will hope to improve profit margins across the supply chain in 2018, amid strong order books and robust market activity, Danish distributor Damstahl said last week.
Buyers will have to accept higher prices but the "outlook is promising" with European economies gaining momentum, Damstahl said.Metal Bulletin's weekly base price assessment on Friday February 2 for 2mm, grade-304 CR stainless steel sheet was ?,?1,060-1,120 ($1,318-1,392) per tonne delivered in Northern Europe.The February alloy surcharge for 2mm grade-304 CR stainless steel sheet - based on data published by Outokumpu, Acerinox and Aperam - was ?,?1,295-1,315 per tonne.This represents a ?,?25-55 per tonne rise compared with the ?,?1,240-1,301 per tonne alloy surcharge for grade-304 CR stainless sheet in January.The...