According to the German distributor association Bundesverband Deutscher Stahlhandel (BDS), distribution companies
We sold 4.95 million tons of steel products in the first half of the year, which is about 130,000 tons more than in the first half of 2025.
Although this represents an increase on an annualized basis, it should be noted that in the first half of 2025 and 2024, production volumes fell by about 100,000 tons, respectively. According to BDS, the first two quarters of 2026 were generally similar, with 2.495 million tons sold in the first quarter and 2.455 million tons sold in the second quarter. The average monthly sales volume was 818,300 tons. By product group, the average number of rolled products was 1,565 thousand. Tons (compared to 1,475 thousand Tons), and for flat rolled products - 2,929 thousand. Tons (compared to 2,904 thousand tons ). Tons). Other products, such as wire rod, totaled 472,000 tons (compared to 448,000 tons). Distributors
andD sold 848,000 tons in June, which is almost 70,000 tons more than in June 2025. BDS does not provide any interpretation of this increase, however, it is likely that the underlying effect of particularly low sales in the previous year had some impact. Sales growth this year compared to last year was already noted in the first quarter.
As for the volume of inventories, the average monthly volume was 1.896 million tons in the first quarter and 1.884 million tons in the second, which is slightly lower than in the previous year. The average stocks of long products in the second quarter amounted to 617,000 tons, flat products - 1,229 million tons, and other goods - 38,000 tons.
This is still below the average monthly reserves of 2 million tons in 2022. Since the beginning of 2023, only three months, July 2023, February 2024 and April 2024, have exceeded this level.
Author: Christian Kel Germany
kallanish.com