Market developments stainless steel fasteners januari 2022
On a regular base we get questions from our partners concerning the price development of stainless steel fasteners. Considering the always fluctuating market movements this is an essential issue! Significant stakeholders such as banks and manufacturers make forecasts, but often they don't get it right. Which external influences are important? When is a perfect time to place an order? What is currently going on and which forecasts can be made? To answer these questions our CCO Dennis Steegman will share his vision on the stainless steel market on an monthly base.
What is going on this month and what can be expected?
Best wishes for 2022. We are closing a very hectic and challenging year that was characterized by rising prices, increasing delivery times and scarcity. The common thread was container transport, which caused a lot of instability.
How are we doing at the moment?
- The nickel rate is currently stable. For the first time in one year we are seeing a virtually equal price.
- Regarding container transport, we have seen a slight decrease in recent months. However, Xeneta, the Norwegian digital platform for maritime transport, expects the high prices to persist for the time being. They are not the only ones. Many analysts anticipate that these absurd price levels - prices that are more than 100% above the level before the corona pandemic - will still be 'normal' in 2022. This is due to the high demand for containers and the fact that the logistics sector is still seriously disrupted. Many containers are stored in ports, while they are needed elsewhere. This is how Xeneta concludes.
- Availability will remain an issue in 2022. Manufacturers overflowing order books mean it's back-breaking. Delivery times of 10 months and more for less standard products are no exception.
