German steel industry sees no recovery this year

Germany's steel sector should not get its hopes up following some positive data at the start of the year, with demand remaining weak and competition in global markets intensifying, a trade group said on Wednesday.

"I don't expect any major leaps," Hans Juergen Kerkhoff, president of the German steel association, said, adding he did not see any sustainable recovery across Europe either.

Austerity measures aimed at cutting budget deficits have hit economic growth across the European Union and are particularly painful for the steel industry because of the accompanying slowdown in demand for cars, appliances and new buildings.

Germany's steel sector, which accounts for about a quarter of Europe's crude steel production, has performed better than its counterparts in France, Italy or Spain, but is still expected to post only moderate growth this year.

"There is still uncertainty in the markets, just like there was in the second half of 2012, when both traders and processors were cautious," Kerkhoff said on the sidelines of a steel industry conference.

Customers have now started refilling depleted inventories, driving up output by 5 percent in January, the biggest monthly gain since September 2011. However, a 4 percent decline in new orders raised doubts that restocking would continue.

ThyssenKrupp, Germany's biggest steelmaker, this week warned that it was unlikely to return to growth until its next financial year, though a spokesman said on Wednesday its workers were no longer on shortened hours this month.

ThyssenKrupp had curbed the working hours of about 2,000 of its employees from last August, under a government-subsidised programme set up in the 2008-2009 recession to help companies bridge the downturn without widespread job cuts. It could return to shortened hours next month at short notice.

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Europe's steel sector overall has a tough year ahead, with EU steel demand, including inventory adjustments, seen down 0.7 percent this year before a 3 percent rise in 2014, European steel producers' lobby group Eurofer said.

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