Stainless demand said likely to remain tepid

Oct 17, 2012 | 05:05 PM | Thorsten Schier

Tags  stainless steel, MSCI, stainless surcharges, Thorsten Schier

NEW YORK — Stainless steel distributors say that lackluster demand is likely to persist for the remainder of 2012, with little on the horizon to spur a pickup.

"It may not change until the first of the (calendar) year," a southern distributor source said, as the upcoming presidential election, volatile nickel prices and the looming "fiscal cliff" conspire to keep consumers on the sidelines.

Distributors were hoping that a rise in October’s stainless surcharges—the first since March—would spur more buying as customers tried to get in ahead of further increases (amm.com, Sept. 24). But market sources say that has failed to happen. ....





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