Outokumpu upgrades Q4 guidance after unexpected sales boost

Stainless steel producer Outokumpu has upgraded its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2020 following better-than-expected sales, the Finnish company said on Tuesday December 15.

With production facilities in Finland, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Mexico and the United States, and sales offices around the world, Outokumpu now expects its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda) to be higher than the third quarter because stainless steel deliveries are estimated to have increased by about 10-15%.

The increase in deliveries was attributed to a better-than-expected market recovery following the initial Covid-19 restrictions.

Outokumpu previously said that its Ebitda for the fourth quarter would be unchanged from the third quarter at €22 million ($26.7 million).

The fourth-quarter performance is also expected to be supported by improved cost efficiency and the positive impact of raw materials costs.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for stainless steel cold-rolled sheet 2mm grade 304 transaction domestic, delivered North Europe was €2,100-2,130 per tonne on Friday December 11, up from €1,980-2,030 per tonne at the end of the third quarter on September 25.

What to read next
US steelmakers faced a “robust opportunity” in the data center construction boom, driven by rapid implementation of artificial intelligence software, according to Barry Zekelamn, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Zekelman Industries.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments of steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Italy and steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Northern Europe for Wednesday April 22 was delayed due to a reporter error. The Fastmarkets pricing database has been updated.
As major mills in the US steel industry inch closer to reinvestment decisions to reline their blast furnace operations, there is a window of opportunity to spur decarbonization in the already carbon-intensive sector, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) told Fastmarkets in an interview on Tuesday April 14.
For decades, tungsten sat on the margins of US industrial policy. Despite its essential role in armor piercing munitions, aerospace alloys and advanced manufacturing, the ultra hard metal was sourced overwhelmingly from China, while US domestic mining faded from view.
The global market for fibers used in nonwovens faced strong pressure in March, with raw material costs for polyester, polypropylene, and viscose fibers increasing by 4-11% in the US and Europe.
Fastmarkets proposes to launch monthly price assessments for Polish virgin containerboard and white-top testliner with effect from June 2026.