For 2013, the association is forecasting steel demand will grow by 3.2% to an annual total of 1.455 billion metric tons. More specifically, the group sees steel demand growing by 3.0% in the developing and emerging economies (including China and India) during 2012, and a further 3.7% in 2013. However, overall demand will contract -0.3% for 2012 in the world’s developed economies (especially in the European Union), but rise again by 1.9% in 2013. Source: www.americanmachinist.com