Spain imported 3.8 million tons of steel from third countries in 2023

In 2023, Spain reduced imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 1.5% compared to 2022, to 3.78 million tons. This is according to GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

Imports of flat products grew by 0.6% y/y, while imports of long products fell by 14.8% y/y – to 3.33 million tons and 443.85 thousand tons, respectively. Flat products accounted for more than 88% of total steel imports to Spain in 2023.

The bulk of imports came from hot-rolled flat products – 1.77 million tonnes (+10.2% y/y), coated flat products – 1.07 million tonnes (-8.3% y/y) and cold-rolled flat products – 330.25 thousand tonnes (-37.4% y/y).

In December, imports of rolled steel products to Spain totaled 110.18 thousand tons, down 47% y/y. Supplies of long products decreased by 45.7% y/y – to 17.7 thousand tons, and flat products by 47.3% y/y – to 92.48 thousand tons.

Last year, steel exports from Spain remained unchanged compared to 2022 at 1.84 million tons. In particular, exports of long products increased by 3% y/y – to 1.34 million tons, while exports of flat products decreased by 7.3% y/y – to 52.05 thousand tons.

The largest exports were angles, shapes and special profiles made of non-alloyed steel – 915.2 thousand tons (+6.8% y/y), coated flat products – 152.1 thousand tons (-12.1% y/y), other rods and bars without processing, twisted – 136.08 thousand tons (+18.4% y/y) and flat products made of other alloyed steels – 134.9 thousand tons (+3% y/y).

In December, Spain exported 143.55 thousand tons of rolled steel, which is 7.9% less compared to December 2022. Exports of long products increased by 1.5% y/y – to 110.3 thousand tons, while flat products decreased by 29.5% y/y – to 33.24 thousand tons.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2023, Spain reduced steel production by 2.7% compared to 2022, to 11.26 million tons. The average monthly steel production amounted to 938.5 thousand tons, while in the same period of 2022 the figure was 964.42 thousand tons (-2.69% y/y).

Steel production in the EU countries amounted to 126.3 million tons in 2023, down 7.4% y/y.

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