Belgium Metals Report Q4 2010: New research report available at Fast Market Research

Oct. 17, 2010 - PRLog -- The strong growth reported by the Belgian steel industry in H110 is set to end from H210 as Belgium and its main markets in the EU enter a new period of slow economic growth, according to BMI's Q410 Belgium Metals Report.

In the first seven months of 2010, Belgian steel output was up 67.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 4.73mn tonnes, the second highest rate of growth in the EU after Sweden. However, strong growth came from a low base and output was at just two-thirds of the level seen before the global financial crisis hit in September 2008. Moreover, as BMI had anticipated and in common with other European countries, monthly output began to fall after peaking at 815,000 tonnes in May, reaching 650,000 tonnes in July.

The odds are stacked against a further revival in the rest of the year and over the medium term. However, Q210 performance was better than we had expected, thereby lifting our forecast for the full year. H210 crude steel output growth will decline to 6.8% y-o-y as a result of a slowdown in the recovery in Belgium and the EU, but this should be enough to raise output to 7.52mn tonnes, up 42% over 2010, but not enough to reverse the 50% decline in Belgian output. Yet, the steel industry will be weighed down by the effect of slower average trend growth for the Belgian economy through the medium term, with the economy forecast to expand by an average 1.8% between 2010 and 2014, compared to 2.4% in the five years leading up to the global financial crisis. While Belgium is by no means the worst positioned economy in Europe, weaker external demand on the back of fiscal austerity throughout the continent over the coming years, and spending cuts at home, will limit the industry's growth potential. Private consumption and fixed investment - which have been the two main drivers of growth in the past decade - will both be hurt by this, with consumer spending and investment in new capacity to be weighed down through the medium term.

We continue to highlight that growth in steel and aluminium production will not return to pre-crisis levels, which will be reflected in the performance of the steel and aluminium sectors. BMI believes that it will not be until 2014 - at the earliest - that output will return to anywhere near pre-recession levels, if capacity is not permanently cut in the mean time.

For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/88513_belgium_metals_report_q4...

Report Table of Contents:

Executive Summary
SWOT Analysis
- Belgium Metal Industry SWOT
- Belgium Political SWOT
- Belgium Economic SWOT
Global Market Overview
- Table: World's Top 10 Steel Producing Countries
- Table: Recent And New Smelter Capacity
- Commodities Forecast
- Nickel
- Table: BMI's Nickel Forecasts
- Table: Nickel, 2005-2011
- Aluminium
- Table: BMI's Aluminium Forecasts
- Table: Aluminium, 2005-2011
- Copper
- Table: BMI's Copper Forecasts
- Table: Copper, 2005-2011
Regional Overview
Forecast Scenario
- Table: Belgium Metals Industry Production And Trade ('000 tonnes unless stated), 2007-2014
- Macroeconomic Outlook
- Table: Belgium - Economic Activity
Competitive Landscape
Company Profiles
- ArcelorMittal
- Steel Invest and Finance (Duferco)
- Corus
- Alcoa
Global Assumptions - Q4 2010 Update
- Table: Global Assumptions
- Table: Global & Regional Real GDP Growth
- Table: Consensus Forecasts
- Table: Developed States, Real GDP Growth Forecast
- Table: Emerging Markets Aggregate Growth
Country Snapshot: Belgium Demographic Data
- Section 1: Population
- Table: Demographic Indicators, 2005-2030
- Table: Rural/Urban Breakdown, 2005-2030
- Section 2: Education and Healthcare
- Table: Education, 2002-2005
- Table: Vital Statistics, 2005-2030
- Section 3: Labour Market and Spending Power
- Table: Employment Indicators, 2001-2006
- Table: Consumer Expenditure, 2000-2012 (US$)
- Table: Average Annual Wages, 2000-2012
BMI Methodology
- How We Generate Our Industry Forecasts
- Cross Checks

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Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.