Steel firms warn of slowdown
By Phil Blenkinsopand Yuko Inoue |
July 29, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LEADING global steel makers ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel Corp became the latest companies to warn slowing growth in China could hit profits, even as both posted strong quarterly earnings.
ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest producer, with output more than double that of its nearest rival, said a seasonal drop in activity and higher raw material costs would also push down third-quarter earnings.
"Looking ahead to Q3, the summer slowdown in Europe as well as a relative economic slowdown in China is putting a constraint on steel prices while raw material costs continue to rise," Chief Financial Officer Aditya Mittal said.
The US$500 billion global steel industry serves as a broad gauge for the overall economy, as it supplies the key construction and autos sectors.
Steep price declines in China are forcing steel makers to cut output, and the market could slide into deeper oversupply as China tightens policy and moves to curb exports.
Xu Lejiang, chairman of Baosteel, China's biggest listed steel maker, said in June China's steel industry faces its toughest time of the year this quarter, citing high iron ore prices and sluggish steel demand.
The destocking in China, however, appeared to be temporary and the fundamentals of that market were solid, ArcelorMittal said.
Analyst Ingo-Martin Schachel at Commerzbank in Frankfurt, Germany, said the steel sector was clouded by uncertainty.
"The concern is still there but it is always hard to make a prediction for more than three months. The destocking is slowing down so it could be temporary. I tend to agree with the statement."
ArcelorMittal also said it was considering spinning off its stainless steel division to shareholders.
The group said its much-watched core profit will fall to between US$2.1 billion and US$2.5 billion in the third quarter, the mid-point being 23 percent below the second-quarter number.
Japan's Nippon Steel, the world No. 4 steel maker, reported improved earnings for the fifth straight quarter, posting 61.9 billion yen (US$705 million) in April-June recurring profit.
ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest producer, with output more than double that of its nearest rival, said a seasonal drop in activity and higher raw material costs would also push down third-quarter earnings.
"Looking ahead to Q3, the summer slowdown in Europe as well as a relative economic slowdown in China is putting a constraint on steel prices while raw material costs continue to rise," Chief Financial Officer Aditya Mittal said.
The US$500 billion global steel industry serves as a broad gauge for the overall economy, as it supplies the key construction and autos sectors.
Steep price declines in China are forcing steel makers to cut output, and the market could slide into deeper oversupply as China tightens policy and moves to curb exports.
Xu Lejiang, chairman of Baosteel, China's biggest listed steel maker, said in June China's steel industry faces its toughest time of the year this quarter, citing high iron ore prices and sluggish steel demand.
The destocking in China, however, appeared to be temporary and the fundamentals of that market were solid, ArcelorMittal said.
Analyst Ingo-Martin Schachel at Commerzbank in Frankfurt, Germany, said the steel sector was clouded by uncertainty.
"The concern is still there but it is always hard to make a prediction for more than three months. The destocking is slowing down so it could be temporary. I tend to agree with the statement."
ArcelorMittal also said it was considering spinning off its stainless steel division to shareholders.
The group said its much-watched core profit will fall to between US$2.1 billion and US$2.5 billion in the third quarter, the mid-point being 23 percent below the second-quarter number.
Japan's Nippon Steel, the world No. 4 steel maker, reported improved earnings for the fifth straight quarter, posting 61.9 billion yen (US$705 million) in April-June recurring profit.
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