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04/14/2016
Country risk and economic studies

Steel overcapacity around the world: risk reaches a high in 2016

Steel overcapacity around the world: risk reaches a high in 2016
  • Following a long period of increasing demand, driven by China in the 2000s, steel is suffering from weak growth in the global economy
  • The imbalance between supply and demand is being fed by overcapacity and Chinese exports
  • In February 2016, the Chinese government announced the first reduction in production capacity - by 40 million tonnes
  • Credit risks are rising for steel companies
  • The market is not expected to regain equilibrium before 2018

 

Credit risks peak

 

In 2014, China accounted for 45% of the world's total steel production. Now, however, its appetite is waning, with a -3.3% contraction in 2014 and -5% consumption in 2015. Meanwhile, China’s production capacity has continued to increase, heightening the global imbalance between supply and demand. While global production is weakening (-3.1% at end February 2016) and one-third of steel production lines are at a standstill, supply is still abundant. This has resulted in strong pressure on prices, which are down significantly. China is now exporting its production surplus (+20% in volume in 2015), which is particularly weakening steel production structures in Europe, the United States and emerging countries. 

 

                                                                                                                                                              

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The Chinese economy is undergoing structural changes. Manufacturing is giving way to the expanding services sector in China’s growth model. The country’s domestic consumption of steel has already reached its peak and will continue to decline. 

Coface has seen a gradual downgrading of credit risks in global metal production. The sector is the most at risk among the 12 structures assessed by Coface. It is now assessed as "very high risk” in Latin America, emerging Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe, and "high risk” in Central Europe and North America. 

In fact, it is one of the least profitable sectors in the world (ranked 90th out of 94) and the deepest in debt. China's price competitiveness (especially for low-end steel) is weakening steel producers around the world. Current overcapacity is also weighing down on credit risks in China and corporate indebtedness is rising significantly. 

 

Outlook: A return to normal in 2018?

Nevertheless, the rebalancing of supply and demand could be possible from 2018. The first capacity reductions in Chinese production will begin to materialise. While emerging economies will have less success in catching up than in the past, their growing urbanisation and expanding middle classes will be new relays for growth. The three sectors that use the most steel continue to have positive perspectives over the medium term:

 

  • The automotive industryhas a substantial margin for progression in the emerging economies. For example, in India there are 100 autos per 1000 inhabitants (compared to 808 per 1000 inhabitants in the US);
  • Machineryis also benefiting from numerous growth relays, both in the emerging markets and in advanced economies;
  • Finally,construction activityshould take off again, thanks to the strong potential for urbanisation in most of the emerging countries.

 

STUDY: STEEL FACED WITH GLOBAL OVERCACITY

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Infografics : STEEL FACED WITH GLOBAL OVERCACITY

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Download this press release : Steel overcapacity around the world: risk reaches a high in 2016 (207.15 kB)

Contact


Kris Degreef

Media Contact
Vorstlaan, 100 Boulevard du Souverain
B-1170 Brussels
BELGIUM
Mail: Kris.degreef@coface.com 

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