stahlmarkt 09 | 2019

Short messages 11
NEW-CAR DEMAND IN THE EU IS DOWN
According to the European Automobile
Manufacturers Association in July 2019,
demand for new passenger cars increased by
1.4%, with almost 1.3 million units registered
across the European Union. Looking at the five
big Western European markets, Germany was
the only major car market to post positive
results (+4.7%). The region-wide increase was
largely supported by the Central European
countries, where registrations went up 13.4%
in July.
During the month of August, the EU passenger
car market contracted by 8.4%. This is mainly
the result of the high base of comparison, as
August 2018 saw exceptional growth
(+31.2%) ahead of the introduction of the new
WLTP emissions test on 1 September 2018. The
top five EU markets all recorded decreases,
with the strongest drops in Spain (-30.8%) and
France (-14.1%).
Over the first eight months of 2019, new-car
demand in the EU went down by 3.2% compared
The number of new cars in Europe is declining.
to the same period last year, counting 10.5 million
registrations in total. Germany (+0.9%) posted a
slightly positive result so far this year, but the other
major EU car markets saw demand falling.
Copyright: Pixabay
MAJOR ORDER FOR VALLOUREC
Vallourec has been awarded a contract by
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for the supply
of tubing and casing, over a five year period,
with a possible 2-year extension, for an
amount of USD 900 million. It covers a full
range of products, from standard API to high
end premium OCTG for both onshore and
offshore oilfields, and conventional to complex
wells. In addition, Vallourec will supply a large
range of »from mill to rig« services as part of
its new »Vallourec.smart services offer«. This
award represents one of the largest awards
received by Vallourec to supply international
markets. Edouard Guinotte, Senior Vice President
Middle-East/Asia, said: »We are delighted
that ADNOC, the national oil company of Abu
Dhabi and one of our key Group customers, has
renewed its confidence to Vallourec by awarding
this contract and enabling Vallourec to
accompany ADNOC in its long term strategy.
We will contribute to ADNOC‘s In-Country
Value Program. Our successful track records in
Quality, Health & Safety, and Environment
have been decisive. This contract is a new
milestone in our longstanding relationship
with ADNOC, to whom Vallourec will provide
added value, with increased flexibility and
technical expertise included within our new
services and digital offer Vallourec.smart.«
Tubing and casing will be supplied from Vallourec‘s
mills in Europe, South America and
China. Deliveries are expected to start from
the second half of 2020.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GERMANY: ORDER INTAKE DOWN
The order situation in the mechanical
engineering sector continues to deteriorate. In
August 2019, German mechanical engineering
companies booked 17 percent fewer orders in real
terms than in the previous year. Domestic orders
fell by 12 percent and foreign orders by 19 percent.
»As feared, the previous months were only a breather
with single-digit minus rates. The ifo business
export expectations show that mechanical
engineering companies continue to be pessimistic
regarding the economic and political risks,« explained
VDMA economic expert Olaf Wortmann. In
the month under review, 14 percent fewer orders
came from the euro zone and 21 percent fewer
from non-euro countries. In a three-month comparison
from June to August 2019, orders were
8 percent lower in real terms than in the previous
year. Domestic orders fell by 11 percent,
while foreign orders were down 7 percent.
Orders from euro countries fell by 6 percent,
orders from non-euro countries by 7 percent.
steel market 01.2019