Prices throughout Europe, including the UK have surged upwards since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.  However, the full impact of the invasion and its consequences for the steel market are yet to be felt.  Prior to the invasion, many people, including myself, were optimistic about market conditions, the availability of coil stock and the outlook for automotive demand.   The Russian offensive into Ukraine Read More

When I originally sat down to write this month’s briefing, Russia had not begun their invasion of Ukraine and we still lived in the hope that a diplomatic solution to the crisis could be found.  That hope has now been shattered and we have to cross our fingers and wish for a swift resolution to the conflict.  As you would expect, my initial thoughts for the briefing have changed significantly on the back of the Read More

When I concluded the last director’s briefing of 2021, I  mentioned that there were positive reports suggesting that the automotive sector’s semiconductor supply problems may be close to being resolved. As we head into February, we have definitely seen signs of an upturn in automotive activity with schedules increasing from March onwards. Which, again, points to the fact that things are moving in the right Read More