Mixed Forecast for Steel

Link: Merrill Positive On 06 Steel Price

And this:

China Steel Corp (2001.TW), Taiwan's leading steelmaker, is likely to cut its domestic wholesale prices for the first quarter next year if China's Baoshan Iron and Steel (Baosteel) reduces steel prices, the Commercial Times reported, citing China Steel's vice president TH Chen.

And in the "If you're not confused, you're not paying attention category":

PRICES of coking coal, used to make steel, may fall 28 per cent during the next two years as new mines start production, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Analyst John Bridges claimed coking coal prices may fall to $US90 a tonne in 2007 from a record $US125 this year.

The forecast came as the first round of price talks between iron ore
producers and Japanese steel mills got under way in Tokyo last week.

Still reeling from last year's 71.5 per cent hike, Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, Sumitomo Metals Kobe Steel and Nisshin Steel have been calling out for a price cut in 2006 to offset the impact of falling steel prices on margins.

However, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Brazil's CVRD are all bullish about iron ore demand being driven almost entirely by output expansions within China's steel industry.

Conclusion: Nobody knows which way things are going.  The picture is decidedly "mixed".

Comments

[ティンバーランド]

京都府の担当者も「処理の実働部隊となる市町村に受け入れを要請する際の国の基準が不明確で、検討する予定はない」としており、まずは国基準をさらに明確化する必要があると主張。滋賀県も、県内の全１９市町が「受け入れ困難」としているため、県としても検討していないという。

　ティンバーランドまた、近畿で唯一、広域連合に加盟していない奈良県の担当者も「県民の理解や感情論を考えると現状では難しい」と話している。