PRESS RELEASE BY MBD...

UK STEEL STOCKHOLDING MARKET RESEARCH REPORT

RELEASED: AUGUST 2006

After researching the UK steel stockholding market development and taking into account various other factors the following conclusions can be drawn from MBD's report:

MARKET REVIEW 1998-2002:

According to the data available to MBD, UK steel stockholders handled more than 7.7 million tonnes of material in 1998. This represented almost 4% growth in the year, and is believed to have been the highest tonnage recorded by the sector during the review period. It is estimated that there was a decline of almost 7% in 1999, and there was only a partial recovery in 2000 and 2001 of 1% and 2% respectively, with the tonnage handled by steel stockholders remaining below 7.5 million tonnes. In 2002 the tonnage handled by UK steel stockholders is believed to have declined by 7% to less than seven million tonnes.

MARKET FORECAST 2004-2008:

Against a background of continued difficulties in the UK manufacturing sector, then so the long term prospects for the steel stockholder sector remain relatively bleak. However, MBD believe that growth will be achieved in the short term, buoyed by the realignment of the pound Sterling against the Euro. MBD are optimistic that growth of 4% will be achieved between 2003 and 2005. Thereafter however MBD estimate that sales of steel stockholders will decline by 1% and 2% respectively.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Market & Business Development Ltd specialises in business to business market research. The range of reports and industries in which we operate in constantly expanding (our portfolio comprises of more that 140 titles). All our reports are written by in-house market consultants.

Click here for full details of the UK Steel Stockholding Market Research Report

MBD WELCOMES PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Press releases on the latest MBD market research reports can be sent to editors and journalists involved in trade magazines.

Full press releases are available, please email your request, along with the magazine title you are writing for, to pressoffice@mbdltd.co.uk.