Steel prices in Germany in anticipation of the rise

In September, German distributors and manufacturers expect steel prices to rise in August, while inventories are expected to remain largely stable, according to a survey by S&P Global Platts.

The price movement index increased significantly from 68.2 in July to 73.1 this month (50 means stability).

While factories and the trade and distribution sector remain optimistic in terms of pricing - with factory sentiment rising from July to August - end users expect more stable prices.

As the summer breaks in Germany, big decisions are delayed after the holidays, the sources say.

Inventories are expected to remain stable throughout the month at 57.1 over the month, up from 27.3 in July.

A German source in Germany said the third quarter was limited due to seasonal shutdowns, so it began offering material for the fourth quarter with release in October.