Poland imported 378.7 thousand tons of steel from third countries in January-February

In January-February 2024, Poland increased imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 69.6% compared to the same period in 2023, up to 378.71 thousand tons. This is evidenced by GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

Imports of flat products increased by 95.9% y/y over 2 months and long products by 24.1% y/y – to 277.28 thousand tons and 101.43 thousand tons, respectively. Flat products accounted for more than 73% of total steel imports to Poland in January-February 2024.

Hot-rolled flat products accounted for the bulk of imports – 164.79 thousand tons (+69.4% y/y), coated flat products – 78.74 thousand tons (+267.8% y/y), and wire rod – 28.44 thousand tons (+26.2% y/y).

In February, imports of rolled steel products to Poland totaled 168.92 thousand tons, up 53.9% y/y. Shipments of long products increased by 9.9% y/y – to 45.15 thousand tons, and flat products by 80.2% y/y – to 123.76 thousand tons.

Exports of steel from Poland in February increased by 24.9% compared to February 2023 to 30.76 thousand tons. In particular, exports of long products increased by 74% y/y – to 20.55 thousand tons, and flat products decreased by 20.4% y/y – to 10.2 thousand tons. Wire rod accounted for the largest volume of exports – 11.74 thousand tons (+598% y/y).

In January-February, Poland exported 53.74 thousand tons of rolled steel, up 12.9% y/y. Exports of long products increased by 53.4% y/y – to 30.73 thousand tons, while flat products decreased by 16.5% y/y – to 23 thousand tons.

Last year, Poland reduced imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 14% compared to 2022, to 1.77 million tons. Steel exports increased by 15.2% y/y – to 318.8 thousand tons.

In 2023, Polish steelmakers reduced steel production by 13.1% compared to 2022, to 6.44 million tons. Last year, the average monthly steel production in Poland amounted to 536.42 thousand tons, while in 2022 the figure was 617.25 thousand tons (-13.09% y/y).

There are 6 steel enterprises in Poland, including ArcelorMittal Warszawa (capacity of 0.75 million tons of steel per year), Celsa Huta Ostrowiec (0, 9 million tons per year), Liberty Czestochowa (0.84 million tons per year), CMC Zawiercie (1.7 million tons per year), ArcelorMittal Dąbrowa Górnicza (5 million tons per year), and Ferrostal Labedy Gliwice (0.5 million tons per year). The total capacity of the plants is 9.69 million tons per year. Thus, in 2023, capacity utilization was 66.4%.