TPT July 2012

Industry News

Trends in ferrous and non- ferrous metals in 2011 and 2012

vulnerable to theft or because it suffers the competition of cheaper materials. In addition, the production of semi- finished copper alloy products (501,400 tons) decreased by 2.8% primarily due to a lower production of brass bar, which lost 2.6% (455,700 tons). Rolled alloys did poorly also: -4.2% (62,400 tons). In contrast, aluminium showed a good trend: according to Assomet, the global consumption reached nearly 2 million tons (1,955,000 tons), up by 19.7%, the second best result ever, second only to 2007 (2,050,000 tons). In contrast with the rigid domestic production of primary metal, imports have increased to 1,013,400 (+23.5%). The production of secondary metal is also doing well, having benefited from a strong demand, both domestic and foreign (especially from the EU), which pushed domestic production to 750,000 tons (+24.2%). Even the use of secondary, especially in the die casting sector, increased significantly to 666,000 tons (+28.5%). On the semi-finished products front, extruded products experienced a +4.0% to 475,400 tons, benefiting from a lively foreign demand (+5.3%) thus reaching an export quota of 45% of production. The global demand for rolled products was satisfactory (+6.8% to 458,100 tons), largely a result of the positive performance of the packaging sector given that the demand for other uses dropped. Lead production also showed positive figures with an increase of 6.5%.

What emerged from the AIB meeting is that 2012 will be a year to be taken with caution for the metals market. After a 2011 that, with ups and downs, concluded positively from the production standpoint, 2012 raises some concerns. According to the data provided by Giuseppe Pasini regarding the first 11 months of 2011, the Italian steel industry enjoyed a growth of 11.3% over 2010, with an +18% for flat products and +7.3% for long products. Furthermore, Italian exports of steel grew a good +12.5% while imports grew at a slower pace – 7.3%. Mr Pasini highlighted the growth in sales to the EU and a decrease to emerging countries. The Federacciai president commented that: “Italian domestic consumption of steel is expected to be consistent with last year,” adding that the steel industry will not be able to escape the effects of a decreasing GDP. On the contrary, 2011 was a weak year for copper according to Assomet: the consumption of refined metal declined -6.2% (581,000 tons) as a consequence of the reduced activity of transformers. In fact, the production of semifinished copper products dropped 6.7% (556,100 tons). Electrical copper products like wire and bars did worse than the industry average, dropping 8.8% (433,000 tons). Products for construction such as rolled products (-19.3% to 45,100 tons) and pipes for plumbing, heating and industrial uses also fell below the average, 6.2% to 62,400 tons. This is an economic trend that joins a long-term trend characterised by the progressive replacement of copper in building applications either because it is line heat-treatment, tube cold working, calibration and corrugation of circular round products for solutions for processing high-alloyed stainless steels, nickel-base alloys, copper, aluminium and titanium. At Tube China 2012 the company will present new advancements and technology highlights, including the latest developments for the application

AT the AIB (Industrial Association of Brescia) headquarters the coming editions of Metef-Foundeq and Metalriciclo-Recomat – the international trade fairs organised by Alfin-Edimet – were presented. Metef-Foundeq is the world renowned biennial trade fair for the aluminium sector, technological metals and the foundry and Metalriciclo- Recomat is the trade show dedicated to technologies for the recycling of metals and industrial materials. The presentation was made at the closing of the meeting “Ferrous and Non-ferrous metals in 2011 and 2012 – Leading players speak”, an event that saw representatives of the major industry associations, who have long supported the two events organised by Alfin- Edimet, discuss the situation of the Italian metallurgical industry and prospects for 2012, a year which will be taken with caution as well as optimism following 2011, which saw positive results for the foundry sectors and steel in particular. The meeting, opened and moderated by Paolo Kauffmann, senior partner of Kauffmann & Sons, also offered the participation of Giuseppe Pasini, president of Federacciai, Romano Pezzotti, president of Assofermet Rottami (Scrap), Franco Zanardi, vice- president of Assofond, Gino Schiona, director general of CiAl, and Stefano Vittorio Kuhn, deputy director general and sales director of Banco di Brescia, the main sponsor of Metef-Foundeq. The speakers expressed their satisfaction with the transfer of Metef- Foundeq and Metalriciclo-Recomat to Veronafiere and the belief that this will ensure the further development of the events. ROSENDAHL Metal Tubes & Hoses provides manufacturing solutions for smooth tubes and corrugated hoses with diameters from 2 to 220mm at wall thicknesses of 0.05 to 10mm, with highest demands regarding precision and corrosion resistance. The main technological competencies are in the fields of metal forming, welding (TIG, laser and plasma welding), in-

Metef-Foundeq – Italy Website: metef.com Rosendahl at Tube China 2012

fields of solar tubes, heating tubes, hygienic and process tubes, automotive industries and turnkey solutions. The company will especially focus on solutions for processing of titanium. Rosendahl Maschinen GmbH – Austria Email: office@rosendahlaustria.com Website: www.rosendahlaustria.com

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July 2012