[Steel ]MEPS : North American Stainless Steel Price Forecast

It is expected in June, stainless steel prices will rise again. With nickel and chromium increased costs, alloy surcharge will also be improved accordingly. But basic prices will offset the reduction in the surcharge increase. Summer, stainless steel prices relatively stable, the surcharge will eventually stop rising. May, nickel prices continue to rise, and record highs. But in June, nickel prices dropped slightly. Due to the closure of the port, NORILSK in mid-June before the consignor not. As the region stainless steel output dropped in 2007 to the second half due to nickel prices and weaker demand for accelerated decline. May, the LME nickel inventories rose to the highest level this year. The past three months, nickel inventories showed an upward trend. With the increase in demand, many factories have stainless steel with low nickel or nickel output, the chrome facing upward pressure on prices. Before the end of the nickel market is expected to restore balance between supply and demand. LME nickel prices fell face serious risks. In December 2007, the price of nickel dropped to 35,000 U.S. dollars / ton around the first half of 2008 has stabilized.
July, 304 cold-rolled stainless steel prices expected to increase, but the increase is not. 304 cold-rolled sheet alloy surcharge should be equivalent to the price of the 78%. From a long-term perspective, nickel-based stainless steel with nickel to the price of metal prices and demand fell down. First half of 2008, stainless steel price will be stabilized and then began to add steel stocks.