Poland imported 729.5 thousand tons of steel from third countries in January-April

The main part of the import fell on flat rolled products – 543.4 thousand tons

In January-February 2024, Poland increased imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 41.5% compared to the same period in 2023, up to 729.51 thousand tons. This is based on GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

Over 4 months, imports of flat products increased by 53% y/y and long products – by 16% y/y, to 543.4 thousand tons and 186.11 thousand tons, respectively. Flat products accounted for more than 74% of total steel imports to Poland in January-April 2024.

Hot-rolled flat products accounted for the bulk of imports – 302 thousand tons (+34.9% y/y), coated flat products – 167.4 thousand tons (+126.5% y/y), and wire rod – 50.3 thousand tons (+4.1% y/y).

In April, imports of rolled steel products to Poland totaled 200.5 thousand tons, up 23.4% y/y. Supplies of long products fell by 1.8% y/y – to 44.25 thousand tons, and flat products by 33% y/y – to 156.23 thousand tons.

Steel exports from Poland in April increased by 7.8% compared to April 2023 to 23.04 thousand tons. In particular, exports of long products decreased by 13.5% y/y – to 11.1 thousand tons, and flat products increased by 39.8% y/y – to 11.95 thousand tons. Coated flat products accounted for the largest volume of exports – 7.31 thousand tons (+89.8% y/y).

In January-April, Poland exported 109.8 thousand tons of rolled steel, up 11.6% y/y. Exports of long products grew by 35.6% y/y – to 67.65 thousand tons, while flat products decreased by 13.2% y/y – to 42.13 thousand tons.

Last year, Poland reduced imports of rolled metal 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 steel production capacity of the plants reaches 9.69 million tons per year. Thus, in 2023, capacity utilization was 66.4%.