2026 is shaping up to be a year where strategy matters more than spot prices.
MEPS data points to a structurally fragile steel market heading into 2026. Demand remains uncertain, policy and compliance risk is rising, and cost pressures are converging rather than easing.
External market commentary from Kallanish and Platts reinforces the same picture across Europe: higher-for-longer interest rates, hesitant capital investment, and an industrial slowdown that continues to weigh on steel consumption in the UK and EU.
In this environment, headline prices tell only part of the story. The bigger risk lies in timing, sourcing flexibility, and exposure to regulatory and carbon-related cost shifts.
For steel buyers and traders, the focus is moving from chasing short-term price moves to managing risk across the supply chain.
For Almet, this is where insight-led trading matters most: helping partners plan ahead, adapt sourcing strategies, and navigate volatility as 2026 approaches.