Asia will soon be hit by a “steel tsunami”, a veteran trader in Vietnam told Fastmarkets recently, with a combination of factors expected to keep prices high into the second and third quarters of 2021.

Algeria's steel billet import market is set for dramatic changes in the next couple of years, largely as a result of the country's fast-growing local steel industry.

Currency exchange rates can make or break a steel trade, and with forex volatility in emerging markets expected to continue for the rest of the year, the Asian ferrous markets are likely to see more price fluctuations before the end of 2019.

Fastmarkets MB organized a North Africa Steel Summit on Thursday December 13 in Dubai, which immediately followed the Middle East Iron and Steel Conference.

Participants in the European long steel markets expect consumption to rise once the weather improves in April, but the outlook for prices appears to differ between Northern and Southern Europe, market sources told Metal Bulletin this week.

Just as China and the United States started to reach a deal and trade tensions eased, providing some longed-for certainty, the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) has again increased fear and uncertainty in the steel and feedstock markets.

Finished long steel prices in Europe are expected to remain largely stable in February after rising steadily through January, market participants told Metal Bulletin this week.

Finished long steel prices in Europe are expected to weaken in line with the seasonal fall in end-user demand in December, according to market participants.

Chinese vanadium prices have dropped significantly since this year’s week-long Lunar New Year holiday (February 4-10) amid falling international prices and weak demand in both the domestic and international markets.

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday April 7 that are worth another look.