【SMM Steel】Wuppermann opens new pipe plant at Austrian site

【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】Czech group Sev.en Global Investments proposed the UK find a single buyer for British Steel and Speciality Steel UK, potentially creating Britain's largest steel producer. The CEO said merging the two assets would require lower budget expenditures and ensure a more stable model. Sev.en plans to invest ~£100m in its UK assets and is ready to invest "hundreds of millions of pounds" in further development under the 7 Steel brand. British Steel came under govt control in April 2025 due to closure risk from Jingye. SSUK was declared insolvent following Liberty Steel's difficulties. If successful, Sev.en could overtake Tata Steel as the UK's largest steel producer.