The year 2001 has been characterized by for steel, the EU, which was a traditional Faced with the constant imbalance unforeseeable events and big contrasts. steel exporter, has become the biggest between supply and demand , the The first half was satisfactory, the second importer in the world. Imports are representatives of the 38 main steel brought a downturn; the volumes were flowing in from all over the world, the producing countries and of the steel generally acceptable, the prices and more so as the trade barriers, which sector have been examining at OECD hence the results were horrifying, some several other countries have erected, are leve l since Sep tember the actual parts of the world knew growth, others, diverting the trade flows towards growth possibilities for reduction of the world's mainly the EU and Belgium, were regions which have stayed open. All this is inefficient excess production capacities declining. The world steel sector is full of determining prices, which have in fact as well as for the elimination of practices paradoxes and profound mutations. become global. In one year's time, prices which are hindering the regular func-Changes, which took years and even for most of the products have fallen by tioning of the steel market.decennia in the past, today are swift and 25% to the same level as 20 years ago.abrupt. But let's take a closer look at all Environmental care is a major this. In our sector, which stays very preoccupat ion which the steel

fragmented at world level, the regrouping compan ies want to treat in total As for Europe, the market at the of the forces has been one of the means transparency within a continuous, beginning of 2001 benefited from a which several producers have chosen to constructive and responsible dialogue buoyant demand. The successi ve improve their future perspectives: it with the interested parties. Therefore, downward revisions of the economic enables them to obtain the critical mass the companies have put into place a forecasts hardly affected the activity of in order to adapt their offer at world system of environmental management the main steel consuming sectors. level, to split up the efforts and and a programme for the improvement of However, in the middle of the year, the investments which are linked to the their performances.order bookings progressively slowed development of new products, and to down and volumes were shrinking. This improve the effectiveness of production The battle against greenhouse gas evolution was exacerbated by excessive processes and the management of emissions - the goal of the Kyoto stocks and a general pessimism about the resources. Protocol, adopted by the agreement at economic short and medium term future the United Nations on climate change - after the events of September 11 . is one of the priority actions where the

steel industry, unlike others, has already This fatal date however doesn't contributed substantially by improving explain everything. In fact, the energy - efficiency of its installations.important parts of the United States steel industry had long Environmental measures been in crisis. which in the end put a

p e n a l t y o n t h e This situation lies at the heart countries/sectors which of President Bush's March 5 are most envi ron -unilateral decision to close off mentally careful would t h e U S m a r k e t . T h e b e t ot al ly un pro -restructuring of the sector ductive.however demands other measures. Japan is preparing, The year 2002 will be more discreetly, restructuring one of transition, programmes and is looking for with a second half potential partners, at national as well w h i c h s h o u l d as international level. The European confirm the first signs steel sector, as we shall see further on, is of recovery, insofar as determined to carry on with the the consequences of restructuring which was started in the the American measures 80's. do not abort the burgeoning

With the creation of Arcelor, four revival which can be noted within the companies under Belgian law - Cockerill One of the main evolutions which steel consuming sectors. Probably new Sambre, Sidmar, ALZ and Usinor marked the world steel industry during strategic alliances will be forged in the Industeel Belgium - which represent the last years is the fast growth of sector.some 80% of the Belgian steel international trade. This is the result of production, have become part of the the dynamics of globalisation, of the The year 2002 will also be an important number one steel group in the world.remarkable growth of the use of steel, of turning point for our sector: the ECSC

the emergence of new producers and of Treaty, which was the very basis for the the concentration of production on the An industrial group is however more than European Union, will come to an end and most profitable equipment. figures and equipment; it is above all an from July 23rd, the steel sector will be

organization of men, who put into daily covered by the General Treaty of the EU, practice a corporate culture based on The consequences for the European like all other sectors.fundamental values such as a contribution producers have been very severe and are to society, dialogue, development of skills, still so. Two years after having for the first team spirit and sense of responsibility. time in its history booked a trade deficit

Bernard SerinPresident of the Belgian Steel Federation

th

th

1997

Total deliveries

Labor force (’000)

Deliveries in the European Union

Steel products (all qualities)

Crude steel production (in Kt)

Deliveries of steel products (in Kt)

Year

Year

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

8076

8618

8430

8471

7732

9892

10504

10902

11315

11217

8432

8992

8832

8910

8086

3818

3819

4207

4312

4266

2286

2412

2078

2705

2655

503

895

859

759

759

2060

1921

1872

1830

1460

2304

2675

2725

3146

3425

936

805

930

926

902

843

965

983

1024

1016

10718

11404

10910

11615

10741

Pig Iron

Total

Oxygen converter

Hot rolledstrip

Electricfurnace

Plate Coldrolled

Coated flatproducts

Wirerod

of whichstainless &other alloys

Total

Crude Steel

243

Belgium17%

otherEU73%

Belgium18%

otherEU9%UK

5%Italy8%

France32%

Germany20%

Netherlands8%

outsideEU10%

500 24

400

21

22300

23

20020

100 19

0

191

332

21,8 21

20,2

21,2 21

466

400

1997 1998 19981999 19992000 2001 2000 200118

Belgian Steel in Figures

Investments (M €)

Montoyer 47 - 1000 Brussels • Tel.: +32 (02) 509 14 11 • Fax +32 (02) 509 14 00 • www.steelbel.be • E-mail: gsv@steelbel.be

Member Companies

Group / Companies

ARCELOR Group

Gruppo DUFERCO

Gruppo RIVA

Gruppo BELTRAME

ELLWOOD Group Inc.

CARSID

sa Cockerill Sambre

sa Duferco Clabecq

sa Thy-Marcinelle

sa Laminoirs du Ruau

sa Ellwood Steel Belgium

sa Carsid

sa Duferco La Louvière

sa Tôleries Delloye-Matthieu

Seraing(04) 236 61 11

Tubize(02) 391 91 00

Charleroi(071) 27 01 11

Monceau s/Sambre(071) 27 09 11

Seraing(04) 338 35 50

Charleroi(071) 60 57 13

La Louvière(064) 27 27 11

Marchin(085) 24 48 11

www.cockerill-sambre.com

www.duferco.be

www.rivagroup.com

www.beltrame.it

www.ellwoodsteel.be

www.duferco.be

Sidmar nv Gent(09) 347 31 11

www.sidmar.be hot and cold rolled coils and sheets, galvanized, electrogalvanized and organic coated coils and sheets, slit products, laser welded blanks

hot and cold rolled coils and sheets, galvanized and organic coated coils and sheets, tailored blanks

(floor) plates, shot-blasted and primed plates

wire rod, reinforcing bars

merchant bars, sections

cylindrical continuous cast blooms

ARCELOR + CORUSSegal sc Ivoz-Ramet

(04) 273 73 73

hot dip galvanized coils

slabs + billets

The Luxemburg companies ARBED and ARES are associated members of GSV.

Editor: Robert JOOS

ALZ nv Genk(089) 30 21 11

www.alz.be austenitic and ferritic stainless steel in hot and cold rolled coil, sheet and plate up to 2000 mm wide

sa Usinor Industeel Belgium

Marchienne/Pont(071) 44 17 11

www.cli-fafer.com hot rolled heavy plates, coils in various grades, plates cut from coils

hot rolled coils (chequered, pickled & oiled), cold rolled coils, slit coils, wire rod, wire

electrogalvanised coils and sheets

Main productswww

GSV is the professional organization representing companies who are active in Belgium in the production of iron and steel and related industrial, commercial and service activities. GSV has 12 full members.

GSV ManagementPresident Paul MATTHYS (ARCELOR)Vice-President Alain BOUCHARD (ARCELOR)General Director Robert JOOS

(09 - 04 -2002)