[Ferro-Alloys.com]Germany's Salzgitter has lifted its 2018 forecast up to Eur250 million-Eur300 million in pre-tax profit on the back of a stronger-than-anticipated start to the year, the steelmaker said.

The company said the business outlook would be positive for this year, but highlighted that "the cost of raw materials, precious metal prices and exchange rates, along with global trade policy measures, may have a considerable impact over the course of the financial year 2018."

The initial estimated pre-tax profit was Eur200 million-Eur250 million, which would have been similar to last year. In 2017, Salzgitter returned to pre-financial crisis profit levels, recording a pre-tax profit of Eur238 million as the steel market saw considerable recovery.

Improving results have been seen this year in the strip steel division, but Salzgitter said all other divisions saw improving results.

• [Editor:Jiang Li Juan ]