Anglo European’s CEO has warned that price rises are here to stay, and that other suppliers are playing the situation down. “The cost of steel especially, will continue to climb for the foreseeable future,” said Paul Sullivan, CEO of Anglo European Group, the UK’s largest supplier of steel and aluminium frame reinforcement for window and door fabricators. “Prices will remain high for the next 12 to 18 months at least. If prices cool at all, they will never return to pre-pandemic levels. To pass on these price rises as ‘surcharges’ gives a false impression that it is simply a short-term issue. We need a reality check.”
Paul’s comment comes amid reports of price rises in a broad range of commodities, including steel, aluminium and PVC-U resin, prompting suppliers to the window and door industry to impose surcharges on supplies. “Focusing on steel, the unparalleled volatility in global price rises is the result of a number of factors,” Paul explained. “These include the cost of iron ore, the closure of a number of steel mills due to plummeting demand during the early stages of the pandemic, and the permanent closure of others. Production curbs in China and a surge in consumer demand as the pandemic lifts in markets around the world are also contributing factors. Neither should we forget that whilst we in the UK are heading out of the pandemic, in many countries the disease is still surging. When these countries, such as Brazil and India for example, eventually recover, then pressures on steel supply will further increase.”
According to Paul, steel mill owners are taking advantage of the increase in global demand to shore up profitability: “The unrealistically low prices of steel pre-pandemic have also contributed to the closure of some mills, and we are now paying the penalty for that. I have been told privately: ‘Why would the billionaire owners of steel mills choose to start manufacturing more steel when they have managed to make less and push prices to £1,200 per tonne? The mills are very happy making far less product for double the price of last year.’”
Other leaders from the steel supply industry seem to agree with Paul. Richard Evans, who heads up Davro Steel, for example, said: “During my 30 years’ experience in the steel industry, the current price cycle increases are unprecedented. Following the dramatic reduction in global production capacity due to Covid-19 last year, and the subsequent bounce back in demand worldwide in the second half of 2020 and early 2021, demand has been significantly greater than supply. This imbalance looks as if it will continue well into next year and possible beyond, with prices continuing to be firm.”
Tendencies for fabricators and installers to limit increases in prices to annual or even six-monthly rises should be reviewed, Paul suggested: “Steel is just one commodity that will face continued price volatility during the foreseeable future. The reluctance of suppliers throughout the supply chain to limit price rises to once or twice a year, may result in business failures,” he said. “This is the new world; companies should be prepared to pass on these rises as they occur to their customers, including to homeowners at the end of the supply chain in our sector. That is crucial to ensure operating margins are not destroyed.”
But it is not all bad news: “At Anglo European, we buy our steel months ahead, to ensure continuity of supply for our customers, with orders now placed for 2022,” said Paul. “Being unable to produce and sell product will be more disruptive than any price increases, and window and door manufacturers must take that into account in their future planning. Irrespective of cost, availability is a very real issue,” he added. “We are working hard to protect our customers.” For more information about Anglo European, visit www.angloeuropeangroup.co.uk.
