UPDATE 1-Outokumpu sees stainless steel prices still rising

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BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Stainless steel prices are moving higher and global economic uncertainty has yet to impact the sector, Juha Rantanen, chief executive of Finnish stainless steel company Outokumpu (OUT1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Thursday.

"Everyone agrees that prices are moving up gradually. There is positive momentum," Rantanen told Reuters. "We still see very good end-user demand."

Much stainless steel was going into big energy-related projects such as for liquefied natural gas and oil production.

"I don't believe these types of projects will be impacted by the financial crisis," Rantanen said.

Outokumpu stuck to its earlier forecasts that stainless steel prices will edge up 100-125 euros per tonne to 1,200 to 1,225 to 1,250 by late March.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the European Business Summit conference in Brussels.

Rantanen welcomed the European Commission's probe into whether imports of stainless steel from China, Taiwan and Korea can be characterised as dumping.

"We would argue it is dumping because they are using this kind of state-aid kind of system," Rantanen said.