EU reduced the import of long rolled products from Ukraine by 26% y/y in the first half of 2023

In January-June 2023, the European Union reduced the import of long rolled products from Ukraine by 26.2% compared to the same period in 2022 – to 204.43 thousand tons. This is evidenced by Eurostat’s data.

Hot-rolled rods and bars (HS 7213) were imported the most during the six months – 113.92 thousand tons, which is 15.3% less compared to January-June 2022. More than 55% of the total volume of Ukrainian long-rolled products imported into the EU accounts for the relevant products.

Also, 55.6 thousand tons (+36.8% y/y) of carbon steel wire (HS 7217) and 13.4 thousand t (+34 times y/y) of bars and hot-rolled bars made of alloy steel (HS 7227) were delivered to the European market.

The main consumers of hot-rolled rods and bars from Ukraine are Romania and Poland. In 6 months, 47.1 thousand tons of these products were shipped to the Polish market (-37.1% y/y), and 50.5 thousand tons (+0.2% y/y) – to the Romanian market.

More than 25,000 tons of carbon steel wire were shipped to Poland (+47.3% y/y), and 12,200 tons (+48.1% y/y) to Germany. The entire volume of hot-rolled alloy steel rods and bars was shipped to the Polish market.

In June 2023, European consumers imported 39.6 thousand tons of long rolled products from Ukraine, which is 24.4% less compared to May, and 7.4% less by June 2022, in particular:

• hot-rolled rods and bars – 17.2 thousand tons (-48.2% m/m; -31% y/y);
• wire – 8.8 thousand tons (-10.4% m/m; -12.7 y/y);
• rods and bars hot-rolled from alloy steel – 5.4 thousand tons (-8.6%% m./m.);

Most of the products were imported to Poland during the month.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Ukraine in January-June 2023 reduced export of long rolled products by 39.9% compared to the same period in 2022 – to 253.4 thousand tons. In June, Ukrainian steelmakers exported 61.06 thousand tons of long rolled products, which is 5.6% more compared to the previous month and by 28.1% by June 2022.