Reuters reported that Salzgitter expected prices in heavy plates to slightly increase from early this year after declining towards the end of last year.

Mr Bernd Gersdorff spokesman of Salzgitter said that "We expect that prices will slightly stabilize at the start of the year."

He added that Salzgitter also expects a slight increase in prices from early this year.

Mr Gersdorff said that inquiries from customers on heavy plates are good at the start of the year but added that we have to wait on how demand further develops.

He added that "We expect clients will replenish their inventory for this product and end-consumer demand will slightly improve. We still cannot make a final statement on the overall market situation because it is still too early at this stage to determine how the market will further develop."

Mr Michael Broeker analyst of Steubing said that there are signs that demand would improved in the first quarter. He added that "It looks like basic demand in first quarter overall steel products, particularly for flat carbon steel, will be better than originally expected."