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Dear Members, dear Readers,
The outlook is cautious but pos- itive: The recovery of the global demand for steel is said to be ‘solid’. The gures show that global production of crude steel was up by 4.1 % in the rst three months of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.
Global growth in steel demand overall is expected to be more moderate, but nearly all geo- graphic regions can expect to experience some growth in 2018, say the forecasters.
In the EU, the outlook for 2018 and 2019 is positive, although, says Eurofer (the European Steel Association) in its Outlook 2018- 2019, “activity in steel-using sectors will settle back into a more restrained pace of expansion owing to waning momentum in the tube sector and automotive industry.”
Numbers indicated that a healthy rise in total EU tube output in 2017 resulted in the best annual production volume in the EU since 2012. Steel tube production in the EU is forecast to decline somewhat in 2018 – in line with a downturn in pipeline construction projects – but a slight increase in production activity is expected in 2019.
Meanwhile, innovation continues to drive change within the indus- try and the innovative strength of manufacturers is what enables it to adapt to the constantly shift- ing fortunes of the industries it
supplies. So, for example, as the oil and gas industries falter, the need for more ef cient designs and lighter materials within the automotive industry presents growth opportunities.
The output of research and devel- opment teams needs a platform – which is why our trade fairs and expos are of vital importance beyond their value as a marketing forum for individual companies. They let us share and promote the results that will allow us to move forward as an industry. They foster exchange that leads to new ideas and even better innovative initi- atives.
As the Messe Düsseldorf press team reported following the most recent Tube fair in Düsseldorf, steel and metal processing are “among the ten major sectors of industry” in Germany and German companies are bene tting from a positive global business climate.
The Tube 2018 organisers reported this year’s fair was “bigger than ever”. They said visitors from 134 different countries demonstrated great professional expertise, “while promising customer con- tacts and good post-fair business prospects determined the atmos- phere at the stands. Over 50% of visitors [...] came with concrete investment intentions.”
The International Tube Associ- ation, as the Tube fair’s main industry partner, is always repre- sented as you know, and meets
Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President ITA
many of you on the ground at similar events all over the world. We’re here to keep our members updated and inform you of future events.
In its own modest way, the ITAtube Journal is also a forum for the exchange of news and ideas. We hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to a fruitful discus- sion of the many ideas broached within these pages.
Enjoy the read!
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Gunther Voswinckel
Editorial
Greetings from Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President International Tube Association
ITAtube Journal No2/July 2018
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