British Stainless Steel Association chairman Mark Perrins has urged association members to take advantage of new opportunities that are opening up in the power generation and construction fields.
"We have to realise that marketing and market development are more critical than ever," he said.
"That is why the role of the BSSA is becoming more important in efforts to increase stainless steel consumption."
Mr Perrins, managing director of
Sheffield-based Outokumpu Stainless Distribution, made his call at the Association's annual lunch in Sheffield, after members had heard, with some scepticism, an upbeat view of potential prospects for the sector from metals industry analyst Dr Gehard Pariser.
Dr Pariser suggested stainless steel production could be back to normal by 2010 as the market rebounded from the "huge amount of de-stocking" that had taken place because of the credit crunch. Demand for stainless steel in China had not reached saturation point and the metal was becoming more affordable.
The recovery wasn't yet sustainable, but there could be a turnaround in the second quarter of the year, with production picking up in the third or fourth quarter.
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