November 2011 | Welded steel tube & pipe
Distributors’ buying strike continues: Europe, Middle East and Africa Market Analysis
The prolonged failure to solve the sovereign debt problems besetting the euro has made distributors more reluctant than ever to re-stock limiting themselves to back-to-back buying for secure onward sales – but there are few (and small) end-user orders in the present market.
The division in the pipe market in Europe continues to widen. Specialist pipe mills and the specialist plate mills supplying them – both mainly in north-western Europe - continue to enjoy full order books, much of their limited capacities being contracted out for major projects. Mills serving the spot and shorter term market, especially markets for structural pipes – a high proportion of them in the south – scramble for limited business.
The prolonged failure to solve the sovereign debt problems besetting the euro has made distributors more reluctant than ever to re-stock limiting themselves to back-to-back buying for secure onward sales – but there are few (and small) end-user orders in the present market. In many cases dealers are clearing excess stock ordered in anticipation of a moderate...
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