Purchasing Commodities is like Surfing
Raw material experts of Inverto AG advise to reduce dependency on price fluctuations by actively managing the cost of raw materials now, and to secure income. Read more
Wholesale Sales up 7.5 Percent in Real Terms
According to the preliminary result of the Federal Office of Statistics (Destatis), wholesale sales in September 2008 were up 14.7% in nominal terms and 7.5% in real terms, on September 2007. Compared with August 2008, the increase in wholesale sales was 0.9% in nominal terms and 0.5% in real terms, adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects.
In September 2008, all six wholesale sectors recorded a higher sales volume than in September 2007, in nominal and in real terms. With 46.3% (+31.6% in nominal terms), the highest jump in sales was recorded by companies engaged in wholesaling agricultural base and livestock.
In the first nine months of 2008, wholesale sales increased by 10.9% in nominal terms and 3.5% in real terms against the same period in 2007.
Steel and Metal processing Companies Well-equipped
More than 90 percent of the owners and managing directors of the German steel and metal processing sector think that their companies are well-equipped for the next twelve months, Read more
Egypt named Outsourcing Destination of the Year
Egypt was awarded the prestigious title of Outsourcing Destination of the Year at the National Outsourcing Association’s 2008 Awards held in London, beating rivals Philippines and Romania to the accolade. Read more
Downward Price Trend for Nonferrous Metals
In September 2008, the import price index was up 7.6% on last year’s level. In August and July 2008 this change in rate amounted to an increase of 9.3% respectively. Compared with August 2008, the import price index was down 1%. Read more
Time over for Systems in Munich
After almost 40 years, time is over for the Systems. The IT trade fair is taking place for the last time this week (21 to 24 October). The “Messe München GmbH” announces two new events, among them a security fair in summer 2009. Read more
Steel Price Hikes – Nervous Commodity Markets
Prices on the commodity markets are fluctuating widely, probably also in the weeks to come. Only a few companies provide information free of charge on the internet to research current rates for crude oil, copper, steel and precious metals.
6 tips on links for market analysis:
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Westmetall does not only provide a very clearly structured survey of the prices at the London Metal Exchange (LME prices), charts and market reports included, but also of German metal prices in euros, per 100 kilogram, and of prices for precious metals.
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Tecson informs about global crude oil prices using numbers, charts and a dollar/euro comparison of prices.
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Prices for copper have plunged. Südkupfer gives an overview of the most important and latest market data and prices.
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The CRU Steel Price Index offers current charts and statistics as well as international news on the steel market development.
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At the London Metal Exchange (LME), price fluctuations of aluminium, copper, nickel, zinc, lead and aluminium alloys can be observed. Registered users get a selection of market data free of charge.
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Hans Jürgen Kerkhoff, President “Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl” (Steel Association) and Chairman of Stahlinstitut VDEh, summarised the state of the market in his presentation in Washington on 5 October 2008. This 16-page pdf-document contains current charts on Germany’s steel market (Steel Industry facing New Challenges) and on market supply developments. It does not identify an improvement of market supply conditions. Prices for coking coal, ore and chrome reached record levels. Tin and scrap metal prices fell for the first time at the end of summer 2008.
Aluminium Industry Trade Fair in Istanbul
The “Deutsche Messe”, Hanover, launches new trade show: from 15 to 18 October 2009, aluexpo will open for the first time in Istanbul. This trade show is meant to mirror vertically all fields of modern aluminium technology, ranging from casting products and smelting as well as processing machines to services. Manufacturers and traders have their booths next to each other to establish new business contacts, according to Deutsche Messe AG. Organisers are planning around 5,000 square metres exhibition space in the IDTM Istanbul Expo Center. Read more
Slump in Orders hits Textile Machinery Market
Within a period of less than 10 months, German textile machinery manufacturing has experienced a slump in orders that nobody would have expected recently. Read more
Manpower Bottleneck in Slovakia
A shortage of skilled workers and executives is also developing in Slovakia, despite its highest employment rate among EU countries. Companies are trying to recruit the best workers with higher salaries: compared to last year, remuneration rose 9.2 percent in Slovakia. Companies expect another six to seven percent hike in salaries in 2009. A managing director earns an average 84,100 euros per annum, while peers in Germany get an average 280,000 euros. Two levels down the corporate hierarchy, Slovakian executives earn 38,100 euros and skilled workers 15,500 euros. Read more
Empty Market for IT Specialists
There are currently around 45,000 job vacancies for IT experts in Germany, according to a study presented by the high-tech association BITKOM in Berlin today. Read more
Expanding Market for Commercial Vehicles in September
In a difficult environment, the number of newly registered commercial vehicles continued to rise in September. 32,500 vehicles were sold in Germany, 12 percent up on last year. Read more
