EU reduced rolled steel exports by 9.2% y/y in January-August

According to the results of January-August 2025, European Union steel companies reduced their exports of rolled steel to third countries by 9.2% compared to the same period in 2024, to 10.82 million tons. This is evidenced by GMK Center calculations based on Eurostat data.

Shipments of flat products for the period amounted to 7.05 million tons, down 5.6% y-o-y. The basis of flat product exports is: flat products of other alloy steels (HS 7225) — 2.25 million tons (+0.1% y-o-y), coated flat products (HS 7210) – 1.94 million tons (-2.4% y-o-y), and hot-rolled flat products (HS 7208) – 1.49 million tons (-10.2% y-o-y).

Exports of long products decreased by 15.3% y-o-y – to 3.76 million tons in January-August. The largest share of exports was accounted for by angles (HS 7216) – 1.23 million tons, down 13.3% y-o-y. Another 650.47 thousand tons (-17% y-o-y) were exports of hot-rolled bars and rods in bundles (HS 7213), and 624.48 thousand tons (-28% y-o-y) were other bars and rods, twisted (HS – 7214).

The UK is the main importer of flat-rolled products from the EU, with 2.26 million tons (+11.2% y/y), of which 1.51 million tons (+34.5% y-o-y) accounted for flat products, and 757.1 thousand tons (-17.9% y-o-y) accounted for long products. The US also imports significant volumes – 1.55 million tons (-16.1% y/y). The American market is mainly supplied with flat products – 1.15 million tons (-9% y/y).

Turkey accounts for 1.33 million tons of exports (-11.8% y/y). Flat steel supplies reached 1.13 million tons (-3.9% y/y), and long steel supplies reached 204,190 tons (-39.3% y/y). Switzerland received 1.05 million tons of products (-1.6% y-o-y), and Egypt received 206,290 tons (-31.1% y-o-y).

It should be noted that in 2024, the EU increased its exports of long rolled steel to third countries by 3.6% compared to 2023, to 6.36 million tons. Flat rolled steel shipments increased by 3.9% y/y, to 10.86 million tons.