The EU reduced exports of flat steel products by 7.8% y/y in 2025

In 2025, the European Union reduced its exports of flat steel products to third countries by 7.8% compared to 2024, down to 10.02 million tons. Following a 3.9% year-over-year increase the previous year, this indicates a return to negative trends in foreign shipments. The decline occurred against a backdrop of weak industrial conditions, intense competition in global markets, and uneven demand across key sales markets.

Within the export structure, flat-rolled products of other alloy steels (HS 7225) traditionally accounted for the largest share – 3.23 million tons, up 1.5% year-on-year. Another 2.73 million tons, or 27.3% of the total volume, was accounted for by coated rolled products (HS 7210), but their exports fell by 7% year-on-year.

Hot-rolled flat products (HS 7208) showed the most significant decline among key categories – down 14.5% year-over-year, to 2.09 million tons. Cold-rolled flat products (HS 7209) fell even further – by 26.5%, to 593,900 tons. Exports of wide-format corrosion-resistant flat products (HS 7219) decreased by 12.5% year-on-year, to 494,300 tons.

The overall market performance in 2025 was driven by declines in the carbon steel segments and weaker dynamics for coated products, while alloy grades remained relatively stable.

The United Kingdom became the largest export destination in 2025, importing 2.14 million tons of flat steel from the EU, a 25.2% increase year-over-year. The bulk of shipments consisted of hot-rolled flat products (851,430 metric tons), flat products made from other alloy steels (614,900 metric tons), and coated products (398,060 metric tons).

Turkey reduced its purchases by 6.9% year-on-year, to 1.6 million tons, although it remained one of the key markets for alloyed (654,890 tons) and coated (419,370 tons) flat products. Shipments to the U.S. fell by 18.5% year-on-year – to 1.55 million tons, which was one of the main factors behind the overall decline in exports. Shipments to Switzerland fell by 4.1% year-on-year – to 582,000 tons, to China by 18.7% – to 280,600 tons, and to Egypt by nearly 40% – to 246,700 tons. Exports to Ukraine also declined – by 16.2% year-on-year, to 220,000 tons.

Overall, 2025 demonstrated that European steelmakers maintain a strong position in the high-quality flat-rolled steel segment, but remain dependent on demand from a limited number of external markets.

Future export prospects will be largely determined by the state of the industry in the UK and Turkey, U.S. trade policy, and the ability of EU producers to remain competitive in higher-value-added product segments.

“The biggest challenge facing EU steel exports is the rise in carbon costs. 2026 marks the start of actual payments for EU steel producers, which will only increase going forward. Amid high energy prices, rising carbon costs are making the products of European steelmakers even less competitive in global markets. Therefore, in the coming years, we will continue to see a decline in steel exports from the EU,” noted Stanislav Zinchenko, CEO of GMK Center.