Finland’s stainless-steel producer Outokumpu on July 31 warned that weak demand and price pressure in Europe will cut its shipments and earnings in the third quarter . CEO Kati ter Horst said the sector faces “persistent challenges, including subdued demand, low-priced imports from Asia, and elevated energy costs” . The company projects third-quarter stainless steel deliveries 5–15% below Q2 levels, driven by seasonality and market softness . It also cautioned that U.S. steel tariffs (raised to 50% in June) are diverting cargoes and could spur cheaper imports into Europe . Outokumpu’s second-quarter core profit beat forecasts, but the outlook remains cautious: it expects Q3 EBITDA to decline after maintenance shutdowns and sluggish orders . The warning sent Outokumpu’s shares down over 5% as the company joined peers Acerinox and SSAB in citing weak markets and tariff-driven uncertainty in Europe.
