MEPS Steel Prices Online (www.meps.co.uk) forecasted in early April a substantial rise in average North American carbon steel prices through about October, with prices peaking at close to the high point of the previous cycle in mid-2006.

The British forecasting firm said scrap surcharges are expected to surge in the coming months, leading to inevitable price increases.

“We expect the current scrap price to decline later in the year as the rate of increase in global consumption starts to slow down. A price slippage is predicted for the second half of 2007,” said MEPS.