During the last session of the SteelOrbis Spring 2013 Conference & 68th IREPAS Meeting held in Doha, Uur Dalbeler, chairman of IREPAS and of the billet suppliers' committee, stated that in 2012 iron ore prices brought great pressure to bear on finished steel products. More billets and less slabs were produced overall in 2012, while in 2013 the same situation is not expected to be observed in relation to slab output. Mr. Dalbeler said that the committee does not believe that scrap prices will go down and, as steel prices seem rather stable, this situation puts pressure on producers.
The IREPAS chairman also said that electric arc furnace-based producers and even integrated mills will either have to raise their prices or they will have to consider reducing their production. In conclusion, he stated, the committee's view was that, although 2013 seems set to be characterized by sideways price movement, it will definitely be a better year than last year.