The year 2001 has been characterized by for steel, the EU, which was a traditional Faced with the constant imbalance unforeseeable events and big contrasts. steel exporter, has become the biggest between supply and demand , the The first half was satisfactory, the second importer in the world. Imports are representatives of the 38 main steel brought a downturn; the volumes were flowing in from all over the world, the producing countries and of the steel generally acceptable, the prices and more so as the trade barriers, which sector have been examining at OECD hence the results were horrifying, some several other countries have erected, are leve l since Sep tember the actual parts of the world knew growth, others, diverting the trade flows towards growth possibilities for reduction of the world's mainly the EU and Belgium, were regions which have stayed open. All this is inefficient excess production capacities declining. The world steel sector is full of determining prices, which have in fact as well as for the elimination of practices paradoxes and profound mutations. become global. In one year's time, prices which are hindering the regular func-Changes, which took years and even for most of the products have fallen by tioning of the steel market.decennia in the past, today are swift and 25% to the same level as 20 years ago.abrupt. But let's take a closer look at all Environmental care is a major this. In our sector, which stays very preoccupat ion which the steel
fragmented at world level, the regrouping compan ies want to treat in total As for Europe, the market at the of the forces has been one of the means transparency within a continuous, beginning of 2001 benefited from a which several producers have chosen to constructive and responsible dialogue buoyant demand. The successi ve improve their future perspectives: it with the interested parties. Therefore, downward revisions of the economic enables them to obtain the critical mass the companies have put into place a forecasts hardly affected the activity of in order to adapt their offer at world system of environmental management the main steel consuming sectors. level, to split up the efforts and and a programme for the improvement of However, in the middle of the year, the investments which are linked to the their performances.order bookings progressively slowed development of new products, and to down and volumes were shrinking. This improve the effectiveness of production The battle against greenhouse gas evolution was exacerbated by excessive processes and the management of emissions - the goal of the Kyoto stocks and a general pessimism about the resources. Protocol, adopted by the agreement at economic short and medium term future the United Nations on climate change - after the events of September 11 . is one of the priority actions where the
steel industry, unlike others, has already This fatal date however doesn't contributed substantially by improving explain everything. In fact, the energy - efficiency of its installations.important parts of the United States steel industry had long Environmental measures been in crisis. which in the end put a
p e n a l t y o n t h e This situation lies at the heart countries/sectors which of President Bush's March 5 are most envi ron -unilateral decision to close off mentally careful would t h e U S m a r k e t . T h e b e t ot al ly un pro -restructuring of the sector ductive.however demands other measures. Japan is preparing, The year 2002 will be more discreetly, restructuring one of transition, programmes and is looking for with a second half potential partners, at national as well w h i c h s h o u l d as international level. The European confirm the first signs steel sector, as we shall see further on, is of recovery, insofar as determined to carry on with the the consequences of restructuring which was started in the the American measures 80's. do not abort the burgeoning
With the creation of Arcelor, four revival which can be noted within the companies under Belgian law - Cockerill One of the main evolutions which steel consuming sectors. Probably new Sambre, Sidmar, ALZ and Usinor marked the world steel industry during strategic alliances will be forged in the Industeel Belgium - which represent the last years is the fast growth of sector.some 80% of the Belgian steel international trade. This is the result of production, have become part of the the dynamics of globalisation, of the The year 2002 will also be an important number one steel group in the world.remarkable growth of the use of steel, of turning point for our sector: the ECSC
the emergence of new producers and of Treaty, which was the very basis for the the concentration of production on the An industrial group is however more than European Union, will come to an end and most profitable equipment. figures and equipment; it is above all an from July 23rd, the steel sector will be
organization of men, who put into daily covered by the General Treaty of the EU, practice a corporate culture based on The consequences for the European like all other sectors.fundamental values such as a contribution producers have been very severe and are to society, dialogue, development of skills, still so. Two years after having for the first team spirit and sense of responsibility. time in its history booked a trade deficit
Bernard SerinPresident of the Belgian Steel Federation
th
th
1997
Total deliveries
Labor force (’000)
Deliveries in the European Union
Steel products (all qualities)
Crude steel production (in Kt)
Deliveries of steel products (in Kt)
Year
Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
8076
8618
8430
8471
7732
9892
10504
10902
11315
11217
8432
8992
8832
8910
8086
3818
3819
4207
4312
4266
2286
2412
2078
2705
2655
503
895
859
759
759
2060
1921
1872
1830
1460
2304
2675
2725
3146
3425
936
805
930
926
902
843
965
983
1024
1016
10718
11404
10910
11615
10741
Pig Iron
Total
Oxygen converter
Hot rolledstrip
Electricfurnace
Plate Coldrolled
Coated flatproducts
Wirerod
of whichstainless &other alloys
Total
Crude Steel
243
Belgium17%
otherEU73%
Belgium18%
otherEU9%UK
5%Italy8%
France32%
Germany20%
Netherlands8%
outsideEU10%
500 24
400
21
22300
23
20020
100 19
0
191
332
21,8 21
20,2
21,2 21
466
400
1997 1998 19981999 19992000 2001 2000 200118
Belgian Steel in Figures
Investments (M €)
Montoyer 47 - 1000 Brussels • Tel.: +32 (02) 509 14 11 • Fax +32 (02) 509 14 00 • www.steelbel.be • E-mail: [email protected]
Member Companies
Group / Companies
ARCELOR Group
Gruppo DUFERCO
Gruppo RIVA
Gruppo BELTRAME
ELLWOOD Group Inc.
CARSID
sa Cockerill Sambre
sa Duferco Clabecq
sa Thy-Marcinelle
sa Laminoirs du Ruau
sa Ellwood Steel Belgium
sa Carsid
sa Duferco La Louvière
sa Tôleries Delloye-Matthieu
Seraing(04) 236 61 11
Tubize(02) 391 91 00
Charleroi(071) 27 01 11
Monceau s/Sambre(071) 27 09 11
Seraing(04) 338 35 50
Charleroi(071) 60 57 13
La Louvière(064) 27 27 11
Marchin(085) 24 48 11
www.cockerill-sambre.com
www.duferco.be
www.rivagroup.com
www.beltrame.it
www.ellwoodsteel.be
www.duferco.be
Sidmar nv Gent(09) 347 31 11
www.sidmar.be hot and cold rolled coils and sheets, galvanized, electrogalvanized and organic coated coils and sheets, slit products, laser welded blanks
hot and cold rolled coils and sheets, galvanized and organic coated coils and sheets, tailored blanks
(floor) plates, shot-blasted and primed plates
wire rod, reinforcing bars
merchant bars, sections
cylindrical continuous cast blooms
ARCELOR + CORUSSegal sc Ivoz-Ramet
(04) 273 73 73
hot dip galvanized coils
slabs + billets
The Luxemburg companies ARBED and ARES are associated members of GSV.
Editor: Robert JOOS
ALZ nv Genk(089) 30 21 11
www.alz.be austenitic and ferritic stainless steel in hot and cold rolled coil, sheet and plate up to 2000 mm wide
sa Usinor Industeel Belgium
Marchienne/Pont(071) 44 17 11
www.cli-fafer.com hot rolled heavy plates, coils in various grades, plates cut from coils
hot rolled coils (chequered, pickled & oiled), cold rolled coils, slit coils, wire rod, wire
electrogalvanised coils and sheets
Main productswww
GSV is the professional organization representing companies who are active in Belgium in the production of iron and steel and related industrial, commercial and service activities. GSV has 12 full members.
GSV ManagementPresident Paul MATTHYS (ARCELOR)Vice-President Alain BOUCHARD (ARCELOR)General Director Robert JOOS
(09 - 04 -2002)