Although end-users are still quite active in the US plate market, suppliers do not dare to resume upward moves being wary to disturb fragile demand-supply balance. Most bookings are made by machine building and pipe welding companies. However, while purchases of the former are expected to peak only by late March, the latter are in a hurry to sign new contracts: oil price boom caused by political crisis in Middle Eastern and North African countries has promoted a search for much cheaper oil sources.
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