A B2B marketplace launched with the goal of connecting steel product and equipment suppliers to businesses across various industries has officially closed.
Vallourec, a multinational manufacturing company specializing in steel tubes and hollow sections for industrial use, has shuttered Behub-e, its B2B marketplace. Visitors to the platform’s homepage are greeted with the message:
“The Behub-e marketplace platform is now decommissioned. Thank you for being valued buyers and sellers. We appreciated your business and wish you success going forward.”
Behub-e was introduced as a global platform for energy and industry market players, including Vallourec’s own entities. It aimed to help suppliers sell surplus production and offer a range of products to buyers, while striving to reduce supply costs, support the circular economy, and lower the carbon footprint of steel-related products.
At its peak, the platform was designed to feature up to 500,000 product references across 20 categories from 100 suppliers, alongside Vallourec’s services. Despite these ambitions, the marketplace is no longer operational.
The closure comes after early indications of progress. In March 2023, Vallourec announced a partnership with Balance, a B2B payments platform, to enhance its payment processes.
“Balance’s B2B net terms, which allow buyers to pay after 30 days, is a game changer. This was a major decision factor for us,” said Geoffroy de Roffignac, director of online business at Vallourec. “Other providers only manage the payment portion, so the ability to include net terms sets Balance apart. Vallourec is continuing to grow our marketplace with this simple, all-in-one checkout experience.”
Behub-e also reported growing traction in late 2022, highlighting increased visibility and user engagement. A Vallourec statement noted that daily visitors had grown from 30–40 at launch to about 100, with most users based in the United States. Plans to expand into other regions, such as the Middle East, were under consideration.
Despite these developments, Behub-e’s journey has ended. Vallourec has not yet commented on the reasons behind the platform’s closure.
New ownership may have been one factor. On Aug. 6, ArcelorMittal completed the acquisition of a 28.4% stake in Vallourec, a French pipe manufacturer, for €955 million ($1.043 billion). The acquisition was made by Apollo funds and was approved by all regulatory authorities.
ArcelorMittal’s purchase of Vallourec is intended to strengthen its presence in the tubular steel market, which is used in the energy and industrial sectors. Vallourec’s majority capacity is in the US and Brazil.
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