Uncertainty continues to be a key issue for participants in the UK steel sector, putting pressure on demand and prices, said delegates at the National Association of Steel Service Centers (NASS) summer event last week attended by Callanish. The lack of clarity on tariffs and the new CBAM regulation, meanwhile, are holding back market activity.
One participant noted that there has been a lot of talk about new UK infrastructure projects, defense spending, and the recently published industrial strategy, but "until[demand]levels really start to approach,[many]remain on their way,[and]are quite conservative in their aspirations."
The new industrial strategy and infrastructure development strategy have been approved by industry players as favorable for the domestic market, but this will take time. funds will be allocated.
"This will continue for a while," said another participant, while a third noted that "there was no complete understanding" of the new CBAM rules in the EU. At a recent Callanish conference, the panelists were not sure if even half of the market was ready to launch in January 2026.
It was also highlighted that some European factories are postponing order deadlines to fill gaps ahead of the slower summer period, when trade and maintenance are typically slower than during the winter. This would have resulted in some orders being delivered earlier than expected, while others would have been delivered after repairs were carried out.
"We have enough opportunities," said one of the participants.
Some participants at the event also expressed dissatisfaction with the recent tariff changes in the UK. Evaluate the quotes, and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will review the precautions that go beyond the recommendations. The changes will take effect on July 1, which will give importers some time to digest them.
It was recently confirmed that the UK's protective measures against steel will be tightened beyond those recommended by the Consumer Protection Authority (TRA). This includes new restrictions on residual quotes and the transfer of unused allocations to new quarters.
"We do not expect an increase in steel consumption in the near future, it is still relatively stable," another participant noted, adding that the government talks a lot but does not take enough action.
The UK steel sector is also facing recent changes in the minimum wage and national insurance contributions, which will lead to a sharp
