According to Damstahl's report last Friday, the German-bases service center said the European stainless steel demand would fall about 3% in 2013.
Damstahl said that the stainless steel demand remained at low level in southern European countries. It is different from 2012 that Germany, Benelus and Scandinavia performed better. And the market activities are expected to be less this year.
Also, the stainless steel based and surcharge prices are lower this year and it expects there will no big improvement for the rest of 2013.
However, Damstahl said it had enough for current demand. Demand from building and construction sectors remain slow as well as no big improvement in car demand in the second half of 2013.
Damstahl also sees the global nickel market is oversupplied with surplus about 85,000 to 90,000 tons this year.