Germany imported 760 thousand tons of steel from third countries in 2023

In 2023, Germany reduced imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 31.9% compared to 2022, to 759.99 thousand tons. This is based on GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

Imports of flat products decreased by 20.1% y/y and imports of long products by 34.6% y/y – to 166.52 thousand tons and 593.47 thousand tons, respectively. Long products accounted for more than 78% of total steel imports to Germany in 2023.

Rebar accounted for the bulk of imports – 137.17 million tons (-46.4% y/y), other rods and bars of other alloy steels, for drilling – 111.1 thousand tons (-30.3% y/y), and wire rod – 84.36 thousand tons (-33.3% y/y).

In December, imports of rolled steel products to Germany totaled 38.77 thousand tons, up 3.5% y–y. Supplies of long products decreased by 14.2% y/y – to 26.65 thousand tons, while flat products increased by 89.9% y/y – to 12.1 thousand tons.

Last year, steel exports from Germany decreased by 7.8% compared to 2022, to 3.36 million tons. In particular, exports of long products decreased by 5% y/y – to 1.4 million tons, and flat products by 9.7% y/y – to 1.96 million tons.

The largest exports were of coated flat products – 637.2 thousand tons (-8.5% y/y), flat products of other alloy steels – 433.1 thousand tons (-15.4% y/y), and angles, shapes and special sections of non-alloy steel – 418.7 thousand tons (+22.9% y/y).

In December, Germany exported 220.4 thousand tons of rolled steel, which is 17.5% less compared to December 2022. Exports of long products fell by 21.5% y/y – to 76.06 thousand tons, and flat products by 15.1% y/y – to 144.35 thousand tons.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Germany is among the ten largest steel producers in the world according to World Steel. In 2023, the country reduced output of steel by 3.9% compared to 2022 – to 35.4 million tons, taking 8th place in the world ranking of producing countries.

Steel smelting in converters fell by 0.9% y/y over the year – to 25.63 million tons, and in electric arc furnaces – by 10.8% y/y, to 9.81 million tons. Iron production decreased by 0.9% y/y, to 23.63 million t. The output of rolled steel amounted to 30.64 million tons, which is 3.6% less y/y.