ISMR July/August 2021 | Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

Aluminium associations welcome G7 announcement

The aluminium associations of the United
has been working together to ensure that our
States , Europe , Canada and Japan have
optimised production and recycling systems ,
welcomed G7 Trade Ministers ’ commitment
and the two million direct and indirect jobs
to “… stronger international rules on marketdistorting
that they support , do not fall victim to the
industrial subsidies and trade-
enormous subsidies from state enterprises
distorting actions by state enterprises .”
that are distorting markets along the
In the joint Communiqué issued at the
aluminium value chain . We have been asking
conclusion of their meeting on 28 May 2021 ,
our governments to work together as well , and
G7 Trade Ministers recognized the harmful
to work with us ; they have responded .
impacts of market-distorting practices on
“ We applaud G7 Trade Ministers for
citizens and businesses . “ These practices
strengthening international rules , Tom
confronting this long-standing issue and join
create unfair competitive conditions , hindering
Dobbins , president & CEO of the Aluminium
them in recognizing the essential contributions
the development and use of innovative
Association ; Gerd Götz , director general of
of the OECD . We are committed to supporting
technologies and undermining the proper
European Aluminium ; Jean Simard , president
their continued efforts to build modern trade
functioning of international trade . Of particular
& CEO of the Aluminium Association of
rules that address the excesses of state
concern are harmful industrial subsidies ,
Canada ; and Yoshihisa Tabata , executive
capitalism .
including those that lead to severe excess
director of the Japan Aluminium Association ,
“ Our member companies are not seeking
capacity , a lack of transparency regarding the
said :
protection from competition within or outside
state ’ s role in the economy and the role of
“ We certainly welcome and value the shift
our countries – we are seeking a global level
state enterprises in unfair subsidisation , and
from bilateralism to multilateralism , which
playing field , with free , fair and open markets .
forced technology transfer .”
is the only way to resolve this global issue .
Our workers , our companies , our customers
In welcoming the commitment to
The aluminium industry across our countries
and all of our citizens deserve no less .” n

Heat-treated steel plate market

The global heat-treated steel plate market size is expected to reach US $ 8,667.9- million in 2028 and register a CAGR of 4.6 %, according to a new report by analyst ResearchandMarkets . com .
Market growth is expected to be driven by growing consumption of heat-treated steel plates from end-use industries such as energy , nuclear power plants , pressure vessels and process equipment ( among others ). Increasing power consumption and investments for upgrading existing power plants to increase capacity are major factors expected to drive demand for heat-treated steel plates , thereby driving market growth .
“ Increasing demand for heat-treated steel plates in the ship-building industry , to build the body of the ship as well as cruise ship cabins , the increasing construction of ship vessels and growing marine-trade activities are expected to result in the high consumption of heat-treated steel plates . This is another major factor driving growth of the global heat-treated steel plates market ,” said the report .
Among the steel type segments , the carbon steel type segment accounted for the highest revenue share in the global heat-treated steel plates market in 2020 . The quenching and hardening segment accounted for the second-largest revenue share in the global market in 2020 . The casehardening segment is expected to register the highest revenue growth rate during the forecast period .
Among the application segments , the automotive and transportation segment accounted for the largest revenue share in
2020 . The construction segment accounted for a significantly large revenue share in 2020 . The Asia Pacific market accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020 .
“ The North America market is expected to register substantially high revenue growth rates during the forecast period due to reasons which READ include growing demand for the product from the aerospace sector ,” said the REPORT report . n

Slight shifts in steel demand

The World Steel Association ( worldsteel ) has published the 2021 edition of ‘ World Steel in Figures ’. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of steel industry activities , stretching from crude steel production to apparent steel use , from indications of global steel trade flows to iron ore production and trade .
Edwin Basson , Director General , worldsteel , said : “ We have said many times that the steel industry is at the heart of the global economy and equally so at the core of our sustainable modern society . Despite the influence of the pandemic , through its different regional impacts , the global steel industry was fortunate to end 2020 with only a minor contraction in steel demand . Steel use in China expanded , while it contracted in the rest of the world . We look forward to normalisation in demand during 2021 , owing to steady progress on vaccines and changed behaviour in the global society .
“ We believe that the pandemic has accelerated some key trends , which will bring about shifts in steel demand . The steel industry will see exciting opportunities from rapid developments through digitisation and automation , infrastructure initiatives , reorganisation of urban centres and energy transformation ,” he added .
The World Steel Association ( worldsteel ) is a large and dynamic industry association , with members in every major steel-producing country . It represents steel producers , national and regional steel industry associations , and steel research institutes . Members represent around 85 % of global steel production . n
www . worldsteel . org
8 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR July / August 2021