A report states that the stainless steel demand will grow faster than any other steel products. A notable change of the stainless steel industry in the recent years are M&A among European makers making to 4 from 14 and Chinese remarkable growth of 19.4%. At the press interview of International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) of 17th May, 2004 stainless steel demand was forecast 24,350 thousand tons by 6.8% increase compared with that of 2003. The demand was 20,663 thousand and 22,088 thousand tons in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Asia region has higher growth possibility than any other part of the world. This year's crude stainless steel production forecast in Asia is 11,400 thousand tons with 7.1% increase from last year. Reported was that Korea and China are making 18.0% and 19.4% growth annually. The high growth in Asia is attributed to Chinese growth power. ‘China is leading the stainless steel demand, and the demand and facilities expansion in China are at incredibly high level,‘ said the report, ‘at the current growth rate approximately 30% of the world production and consumption will be made in China in the near future.‘ The product mix of stainless steel in the global market in 2003 was 72% of 300 series, 21% of 400 series, 7.5% of 200 series, and 0.5% of duplex steel. In the recent years the global stainless steel demand growth was 5.0% level, comprising 17.6% in Asia, 9.9% in Eastern Europe, 4.9% in Western Europe, and 3.5% in the US. The leading producers including Acerinox, Nisshin Steel, Thyssen-Krupp, and POSCO shared an opinion that more production of low nickel stainless steel 400 series, which has better anti-corrosiveness and recycling, is desirable. jhkwak@snmnews.com