Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/120608
U.S. Steel Output Down 7 Percent in Early 2013 teel imports into the United States are expected to grow for the fourth year running in 2013 to the detriment of U.S. steel producers, a U.S. steel trade association said this week. U.S. apparent steel use rose 7.8 percent in 2012, but in the same year imports of finished steel rose 18 percent, gaining market share against the domestic supply, according to data by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).The AISI expects imports to grow once again this year by at least 2-3 percent, in line with steel use forecasts. Association President and CEO Tom Gibson said the imports forecast might even be too optimistic, because the global market remains heavily over supplied and pressure to export is high. "We are concerned about it. We have repeatedly raised the problem to our government," Gibson said during an interview at the AISI headquarters in Wash- S ington. "We are a competitive region, but because of the behavior of certain governments, with their heavily subsidized state enterprises, we have some challenges." A global glut of steel production, which the AISI estimates at around 400 million tonnes worldwide, 200 million tonnes of which is in China, pushed various countries to export more aggressively last year. China has been among the most active exporters to the United States and its exports rose a "not acceptable" 34 percent last year, according to the AISI. Looking at steel production and demand growth, AISI sees a weaker first half for 2013 compared with 2012, but thinks a recovery might be on the cards for the second half of the year. FRAUDULENT IMPORTS Countries such as China, Brazil and Russia already have in place, or are looking to impose, restrictions on exports of steel ingredients. Such restrictions would raise the costs of steel raw materials in the rest of the world, AISI says. "We are trying to encourage the government to engage with other governments to reach an agreement to end trade distorting practices and policies," AISI public policy and general counsel Kevin Dempsey, said during the same interview. Among the more vulnerable products are steel rebar and plate, mainly used in construction, which posted a 49 percent and 19 percent increase, respectively, in 2012, while corrosion resistant sheet, used in auto production, and steel pipes posted 36 percent and 40 percent increases. Stronger demand for steel products used by the U.S. oil industry has also attracted higher imports, said Lawrence Kavanagh, president of the Steel Market Development Institute - a business unit - the AISI, who also took part in the interview. Imports of these products rose 24 percent last year and made up 63 percent of the U.S. market.Another problem is also on the rise: Fraud cases where operators misrepresent the origin of steel products in order to avoid paying U.S. import duties. Reuters.com, By Silvia Antonioli, February 2, 2013 India, Brazil Glad-Hand to Better Iron Ore Mining, Steel Relationship new alliance on the steel and mining fronts seems to be crystallizing between India and Brazil. Both countries have decided to increase cooperation and encourage investment opportunities in the steel and mining sectors, following a high-level ministerial visit from India to Brazil. India's Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma headed the team to Brazil last week, which ended up signing a letter of intent for strengthening bilateral ties in the two sectors. The letter aims to encourage investment opportunities in the iron- and steel-related sectors by companies from both nations, and facilitate the exchange of technical knowhow for the growth of the steel industry -- including pelletization plants, a statement from the Indian steel ministry said. "Both the governments would jointly work for developing the steel industry and to exchange technically qualified manpower for sustainable growth of the iron and steel industry," the ministry said in a statement. A http://seekingalpha.comFeb 20 2013, 12:06 By Sohrab Darabshaw 26 IDA UNIVERSAL March-April 2013