[SMM Steel] Morocco extends safeguard on HRC imports, posing new hurdle for Vietnam exports

【SMM Steel】Polish steel group Cognor Holding raised rebar prices nearly 20% effective early 2026 amid a gradual market recovery and EU regulatory changes. The company expects steps to partially offset 2025 losses and improve financial results in coming quarters. A collapse in rebar prices due to Chinese dumping and weak European demand led to revenue falling >9% y/y to PLN2.08bn. Cognor expects operating metrics to improve in Q1 2026 and a return to profitability in Q2. EU regulatory changes, including CBAM and new market protection tools, could reduce external steel supply by ~50%, supporting capacity utilization and price stabilization.

【SMM Steel】Ukraine's Zaporizhcoke reduced output by 3.2% m/m to 75,000t in April 2026, but up 4.1% y/y. Jan-Apr output reached 281,700t, flat y/y. Weak results early in the year were due to reduced coal concentrate supplies from shelling of port/transport infra and power outages disrupting stable ops. Output began recovering in February and continued in March-April. In 2025, output rose 2.7% y/y to 898,300t. Since 2022, the company has spent over UAH360m on coke oven battery overhauls. Zaporizhcoke is part of Metinvest Group, with Zaporizhstal as its main consumer.

【SMM Steel】Wuppermann Metalltechnik opened a new tube plant at its Altmünster, Austria site. Construction began in July 2023, with an estimated cost of €40m. The new line enables a wider size range: complex geometries up to 130mm cross-section and 1-4mm thickness, with pickled, galvanized, or Zn-Mg coatings. For climate-neutral heating, geothermal probes totaling ~5,000m were installed. The first pipe was made in July 2025. Austria's steel output rose 5.9% y/y to 620,000t in 2025, ranking 20th globally.