Middle Eastern countries boosted their crude steel output in 2017, with producers calling for more trade protection measures to support self-sufficiency in the sector.

Strong demand from Turkey, the world’s largest scrap importer, raised global scrap prices sharply during the working week from Monday August 7 to Friday August 11.

The growth of demand has been the key factor influencing the positive trend in the global steel market in recent years, Fastmarkets research manager Alistair Ramsay said earlier this month at the 22nd Middle East Iron and Steel Conference in Dubai.

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday July 8 that are worth another look.

The knock-on effect of Section 232 tariffs imposed by the United States in March this year on imports of steel and aluminium has been swift and dramatic.

Some steel product prices in the United States have risen in response to the looming introduction of 25% tariffs on imports, while sentiment in steel markets outside the US has been dampened by fears of potential shifts in trade flows.

Global ferrous scrap prices are expected to remain firm over the next few weeks, as Turkish mills continued their buying spree during the working week from Monday July 31 to Friday August 4.

As competition in the global steel markets remains fierce, Metal Bulletin provides an update on the new, progressing and closed trade cases from around the world in November 2017.

Steel billet prices fell in almost all regions last week, following the downtrend in scrap and a weakness in Chinese domestic market.

Editor Vera Blei looks at the main news covered by Steel First this week.