An increase in steel consumption is expected at a slower pace
Forecasting steel consumption is a key driver for manufacturing companies. The World Steel Association expects the demand to be modest. An increase in steel consumption is expected by 2% in 2014. This is a little more than in 2013, but for 2015 the forecasts are even more modest.
Forecasting steel consumption in 2015, at the growth level of 2%, will reach 1594 million tons. The current forecast is more reserved than the ones so far. The same forecasts indicate that in North America there will be an increase in steel consumption by 6%, this being the highest growth rate.
Demand for steel in China is one of the major factors behind the expected decline in steel consumption.
The decrease in steel consumption will affect all profile companies.
Steel is an alloy containing as main elements iron and carbon, with a carbon content between 0.02% and 2.11%. Iron-carbon alloys containing between 2.11% and 6.67% carbon are called white cast iron. Steels are the most widely used materials in industry. Their properties can vary within very wide limits, depending on the carbon content and other alloying elements.
In order to improve the hardness and resistance of steels as much as possible, they usually undergo thermal treatments such as tempering or nitriding. The final goal of such treatments is usually to obtain martensite.
Source: http://marketrealist.com/2014/10/investors-guide-global-steel-market-indicators/
English 
Romanian 
French 
Hungarian