SUMMARY:

The global steel industry is highly cyclical, very competitive and still fragmented in terms of market share. Currently the industry is at the height of the business cycle and is going through a consolidation phase, which might result in the smaller players being acquired by the larger ones. The total output from the industry exceeds 1.4 billion tons in 2005, most of it augmented by the increase in output from China. This is expected to increase further, making steel output from China among the largest in the world.

The steel industry demonstrates a high degree of variability, both in terms of earnings and production. The factors attributable for driving this variability are global economic conditions with a particular sensitivity to the performance of the automotive, construction, capital goods and other industrial products industries. The commodity nature of steel, the producers and consumers limited control on price, and the demand and supply disparity have made steel prices volatile. Significant increases in prices for metals and energy over the past two years have also contributed to increased variability in the industry.

Consolidation:
On the consolidation front, the steel industry was focused on Mittal’s bid to gain control over Arcelor. As of July 2006, it appears that Mittal has won its takeover effect for Arcelor, after a protracted wooing. Mittal’s victory in the battle for global steel industry control is giving the steel industry a new direction. The world’s number one and two producers have combined and this will go a long way to push consolidation. The now combined Arcelor- Mittal would produce more 10 percent of the world output, close to 100 million tons of steel. This would give an increased pricing power for producers and suppliers, and decrease the fragmentation. We expect more M&A transactions to occur, with large players buying up the smaller players. Currently it appears to be that Arcelor laid its weapons, which were out before to defend itself from being acquired by Mittal, though Mittal has proven itself to be an earnest and hard-to-shake-off suitor.

Arcelor-Mittal have become the largest steelmaker in the world by turnover as well as by volume. In early 2006, Arcelor had contacted the Russian steel maker Severstal for a rival merger, in order to fend off Mittal’s hostile takeover bid, but it was unsuccessful in doing so. Alexey Mordashov, the owner of Severstal, reacted to the hostile takeover by marching back to Moscow, to wait and strike when the time is right. After the takeover, Mordashov stated: “Severstal is reviewing all its options”. This indicated that Severstal might fight Mittal, but no resistance was seen. Mordashov was planning to collaborate with Roman Abramovich (a wealthy Russian billionaire with diverse business interests) to raise his offer for Arcelor but decided to go back and conduct his business at Severstal. A possible candidate for Mordashov’s future take over bid would be Corus of UK.  It can be envisaged that in the medium term that there will be a handful of companies that will control about 1/3 of the global steel production.

China:
China, as the world’s major producer and consumer, and has a considerable influence on the industry globally, but more sharply in Asia. China’s production figures, which now represents 30% of the world output, continues to grow actively, reaching 349mt in 2005 up a substantial 25% from the 2004 level. Inundation of certain steel products in China has sparked material declines in major product prices and thus pushing the industry towards being more cyclical. Consequentially, China has emerged as the key swing factor over the direction of the global market, linking the ups and downs of its economy to the fate of the steel industry.

As of FY’2005

Brief Company Overviews

Appendix: Global Steel Industry 

The steel industry in the European Union 25 is structured differently than the steel industry in the United States. The key difference is the consolidation of the industry. Arcelor-Mittal, ThyssenKrupp, and Corus enjoy substantial market share in a largely consolidated market place.
 
The steel industry in the United States is completely different compared to other industries globally. US corporate bond issuers have a higher historical default rate than any other steel producer globally. This reflects highly leveraged capital structures of the US steel producers compared to the European counterparts who hold higher cash balances placing significant importance to a cautious approach to liquidity. The high default rate in the US steel industry can be attributed to an elevated level of shareholder pressure for high short-term returns, which then forces the management to deploy higher-risk strategies.

Oversupply in China, particularly in commodity based flat products and long products, and the inventory build-up in Asian countries, with consistent high input prices, are pressuring the region’s profitability and cash flow and thus contributing to the variability in the global steel industry. A new record high was set for world trade in steel, which grew 8% in 2005 to about 1.3 billion tons. The largest steel exporting countries in 2005 were EU 25 32.4 million tons, Japan 32 million tons, Russia 30.9 million tons, Ukraine 27.3 million tons and, entering the top 5 for the first time, China 27.4million tons up a solid 37 percent.

Imports into China increased by 32% in 2005, compared to 2004, imports into the EU and Japan actually fell by 2%. Imports into China from Australia in 2005 were 112million tons, an increase of 34million tons on 2004. Imports from India, at 68.5million tons, were up by 18million tons on 2004 which means that imports from India have increased tenfold since 1998. Imports into China from Brazil reached 55 million tons, and increase of 8 million tons. The break-up of Chinese imports by country of origin shows that Australia supplied 41%, India 25% and Brazil 20%, other countries such as South Africa contribute to the remaining 14%.

China: In 2005 steel production in China was 349 million tons up 25% from 2004. In comparison, production in 2004 was 280 million tons, 2003 was 222 million tons and 2002 182 million tons. Imports in 2005 fell 18% to 27.3 million tons from 33.2 million tons in 2004. Imports had previously risen significantly in 2003 to reach 43 million tons. Exports grew 36% in 2005 to reach 27 million tons compared with 20 million tons in 2004 and 8 million tons in 2003. Since September 2004 exports have exceeded imports to make China a net steel exporter although this was reversed from July. However, in December 2005, exports again exceeded imports. Real GDP in China is expected to be around 10 percent in 2006 and will most likely remain high in 2007 in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, hence feeding demand.

China, which is a major producer and consumer globally, is a net exporter of steel and its increased supply of products might find its way to the North America markets. The sudden increase in steel imports form China is not only fueled by the Beijing Olympics scheduled for 2008, but also because of the increase in domestic demand for infrastructure ignited by the rapid industrialization in China. Currently there are numerous small local steel companies in China, and in our view the Chinese steel industry is ripe for a rapid consolidation phase. But again a lot of it depends on a positive balance of imports and exports maintained in the Chinese steel industry. After Beijing Olympics in 2008, there are prospects of a slow down in the industry do the over production in order to feed big Chinese appetite for steel.

United States: The US, which is traditionally a steel importer, recorded imports of 30.2 million tons in 2005 a drop of 8% on 2004. The key imported products were semis 6.3 million tons, hot rolled coil 3.7million tons, welded tubes 3.6million tons and wire rod 2.8million tons. Key supplying countries include the NAFTA members Canada 5.6million tons and Mexico 3.8 million tons followed by Brazil 2.4million tons and China 2.3 million tons. US steel mill exports in 2005 were 9.4million tons compared with 7.8miliion tons in 2004.

European Union 25: EU imports, after reaching their highest level ever in Q1 2005 at 8.7 million tons, fell back sharply in the second quarter to down to 7.7 million tons and also in quarter 3 down to 5.3 million tons. Hence in the first 9 months 2005 imports, at 21.7 million tons were 11% down on the same period 2004. Consequently, over the first 9 months the EU has resumed its position as a net steel exporter with a surplus of 2 million tons imports 21.7 million tons and exports 23.7 million tons. Key products imported by the EU include semis, hot rolled coil, wire rod, galvanized sheet, hr plates and CR sheet. Key import sources include Russia 3.9 million tons, Turkey 2.1 million tons, Ukraine 2.2 million tons, China 1.5 million tons, India 0.9 million tons and Brazil 1.1 million tons.

While the information and opinions contained within have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, KWR does not represent that it is accurate or complete and it should be relied on as such. Accordingly, nothing in this article shall be construed as offering a guarantee of the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, or as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. All opinions and estimates are subject to change without notice. KWR staff, consultants and contributors to the KWR International Advisor may at any time have a long or short position in any security or option mentioned.