Market environment is relatively stable

The analytical service of “Metal Supply & Sales” Magazine continues publishing the MSS-TM index (Market Temperature). The value of this index is determined through expert surveys on a weekly basis.

In the middle of April the situation on the Russian market of steel products was relatively stable. The previous processes continued on it, no significant rate changes were observed. Estimates of sales and demand in the last week were contradictory, but the extremes compensated each other's influence. Rebar looks more active and in demand, while negative trends prevail in the hot-rolled sector. There has been a continuous rise in costs since last December. However, metallurgical companies manage to raise prices for rebar and medium-sized profile pipes, while hot-rolled products are not getting cheaper, although they are not getting too expensive.

The value of the index “MSS-TM. Results” for the past working week from April 14 to 18 increased by 0.13 p.p. compared to the previous period to 50.34 points. Since mid-March, it has been consistently above the 50-point mark, which separates the observed growth from the decline, but only slightly above that level.

Being rather reserved in assessing the current market situation, experts remain optimistic. The value of the index “MSS-TM. Expectations” index for the current working week from April 21 to April 25 added 0.21 p.p. and reached 53.93 points. This is a new maximum level since May 2024. And the excess of the expected index over the final one expanded to 3.59 points. The previous time it reached such a level in April last year.

Recall that the participants of the expert survey are asked to assess the results of the past week and expectations for the next week for medium-sized A500C rebar (12-16 mm), hot-rolled sheet St3 with thickness of 4-10 mm, medium-sized profile pipes (60x40 - 80x80) according to the following parameters using the ten-point system:

“Sales” (in monetary terms)
"Demand” (consumer, expressed in physical terms - by tonnage, number of requests)
"Warehouse stocks”
“Purchases” (by tonnage - rolled products from manufacturers for distributors)
“Costs” (for energy, labor, taxes, raw materials and other factors affecting the cost of production)
“Prices”

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