European Union imported 140.2 thousand tons of pig iron from Ukraine вuring January-July

In January-July 2023, the European Union reduced the import of pig iron from Ukraine by 13.5% compared to the same period in 2022 – to 140.2 thousand tons. Supplies of raw materials in monetary terms decreased by 27.7% y/y – to €65.4 million. This is evidenced by Eurostat’s data.

In July 2023, European steelmakers imported 11.3 thousand tons of pig iron from Ukraine, which is 4% more compared to the previous month, and 84% more by July 2022. Import costs amounted to €5.1 million. This is 1% more month-on-month and 19% year-on-year.

The largest importers of Ukrainian-made pig iron among the EU countries in January-July 2023 were:

• Poland – 53.06 thousand tons (+25% compared to January-July 2022);
• Italy – 38.2 thousand tons (-54.9% y/y);
• Spain – 32.03 thousand tons (+21.1% y/y);
• Belgium – 6.74 thousand tons (iron was not imported in January-July 2022).

In July, Spain imported 5.2 thousand tons of Ukrainian pig iron, which is 4.6 times more than y/y, and in June 2023 no products were imported. Poland consumed 4.8 thousand tons of pig iron from Ukraine (-52% m/m; +21% y/y).

At the same time, Russia in July shipped to the EU 196.1 thousand tons of pig iron, which is 31.7% more compared to the previous month, and 5.4 times – by July 2022. In 7 months of 2023, European consumers bought 952,000 tons (+25.3% y/y) of Russian-made pig iron.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Ukraine in July 2023 increased pig iron production by 10.7% compared to June 2023 – up to 538,000 tons. In 7 months, steelmakers produced 3.37 million tons of pig iron, which is 29.9% less year-on-year.

Export of Ukrainian pig iron for July amounted to 106.7 thousand tons, which is 37% less compared to June, and 25.4% less compared to July 2022. In January-July 2023, Ukraine exported 906.4 thousand tons (+16.6% y/y).