Southeast Asia is expected to increase its self-sufficiency in 2018 once more flat steel producers start up their plants, according to Metal Bulletin. The demand for slab is also expected to increase once the production lines are up and running. Moody’s Investors Service revealed in November that its outlook for Moody’s-rated steel companies in Asia through 2018 is stable, because profitability will be steady during this period, after improving significantly in 2017. Global steel demand appears likely to increase in 2018 for a third straight year, with Latin America, the Middle East and other emerging economies leading the way, a report by the World Steel Association shows.