German steel industry picks up in 2015

German steel industry is picking up in 2015, the Rhine-Westphalia Institute of Economic Research (RWI) in Essen said on Thursday.
According to results of the latest steel report of RWI, crude steel output in Germany is expected to grow by 0.5 percent this year and to increase in the coming year by 1.7 percent to 43.6 million tons, when the economy begins to recover.
Meanwhile, the worldwide crude steel production will increase by almost 4 percent in 2014, and by slightly more than 4 percent next year.
As the report said, the steel companies will be relieved on the cost side by low commodity prices and fairly stable prices for steel products.
The report also pointed out that German crude steel output could maintain the level of the previous year in 2013 despite dampening conditions.
Although the average annual steel consumption fell slightly and less hot-rolled steel products were produced, it remained at 42.6 million tons in 2013.
The report also said, in the first months of this year, production of German industry that uses steel has risen substantially, mainly due to the weather-related good situation of the construction activity.
How China's demand is developing is crucial for the international steel market during the forecast period, and the decreasing demand from China burdens global steel production, said the report.