France reduced rolled steel imports from third countries by 9.1% y/y in September

In September 2023, France reduced imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 9.1% compared to September 2022, to 26 thousand tons. This is according to GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

In September, imports of flat products fell by 42.4% y/y, while imports of long products increased by 15.5% y/y – up to 6.99 kt and 19.01 kt, respectively. Long products accounted for more than 73.1% of total steel imports to France in September.

The bulk of imports in September came from other rods and bars, untreated, 7.43 thousand tons (+27.8% y/y), angles, shapes and special profiles 3.84 thousand tons (+6.9% y/y) and hot-rolled rods and bars in coils 3.01 thousand tons (+686% y/y).

In January-September, imports of rolled steel products to France amounted to 322.53 thousand tons, down 14.5% compared to the same period in 2022. Imports of long products fell by 23.1% y/y – to 160 thousand tons and flat products by 3.9% y/y – to 162.5 thousand tons during this period.

The main types of products imported by French consumers in 9 months of 2023 are:

• flat hot-rolled steel – 72.5 thousand tons (-15.2% y/y);
• other rods and bars twisted without processing – 57.8 thousand tons (-10.5% y/y);
• coated flat rolled steel – 48.06 thousand tons (-6.5% y/y);
• corners, shaped and special profiles – 34.1 thousand tons (+8.4% y/y).

In September 2023, steel exports from France decreased by 4% y/y – to 154.43 thousand tons. Shipments of long products decreased by 7.2% y/y – to 38.5 thousand tons, and flat products by 2.9% y/y – to 115.92 thousand tons. In January-September, the figure decreased by 12.9% y/y – to 1.17 million tons, including flat products by 13.9% y/y – to 903.1 thousand tons and long products by 9.2% y/y – to 265.12 thousand tons.

Hot-rolled flat products were exported the most – 329.2 thousand tons (-19.2% y/y), and alloy steel flat products – 305.34 thousand tons (-18.9% y/y).

In January-September, French steelmakers produced 7.32 million tons of steel, down 23.5% year-on-year. In September, France increased steel production by 7.1% y/y, up 1.3% m/m – to 857 thousand tons.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022 France reduced steel production by 26% compared to 2021 – to 12.12 million tons. Thus, the country took 16th place in the global ranking of WorldSteel steel producers.