Spain increased rolled steel imports from third countries by 46.1% y/y in September

In September 2023, Spain increased imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 46.1% compared to September 2022, to 244.32 thousand tons. This is based on GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

In September, imports of flat products increased by 45.7% y/y and imports of long products by 49.9% y/y – to 219.94 kt and 24.38 kt, respectively. Flat products accounted for more than 90% of total steel imports to Spain in September.

Hot-rolled flat products accounted for 95.72 thousand tons (-15.6% y/y), coated flat products – 80.21 thousand tons (+393% y/y) and cold-rolled flat products – 32.17 thousand tons (+255% y/y).

In January-September, imports of rolled steel products to Spain amounted to 2.86 million tons, down 8.4% compared to the same period in 2022. Imports of long products during this period fell by 14.6% y/y – to 321.73 thousand tons, and flat products by 7.6% y/y – to 2.54 million tons.

The main types of products imported by Spanish consumers during 9 months of 2023 are:

• flat hot-rolled steel – 1.3 million tons (+0.3% y/y);
• coated flat rolled steel – 856,000 tons (+27.7% y/y);
• cold-rolled flat products – 265.61 thousand tons (-16.5% y/y);
• hot-rolled rods and bars in riots – 118.93 thousand tons (-32.3% y/y).

Steel exports from Italy in September 2023 decreased by 20.6% y/y – to 142.23 thousand tons. The shipment of long rolled products fell by 25.8% y/y – to 98.28 thousand tons, and flat – by 5.7% y/y, to 43.95 thousand tons. In January-September, the indicator decreased by 0.3% y/y – to 1 .37 million tons, in particular, flat – by 4.4% y/y, to 374.99 thousand tons, and long – increased by 1.3% y/y, to 998.16 thousand tons .

Angles, shaped and special profiles made of non-alloy steel were exported the most – 669.05 thousand tons (+6.4% y/y), and coated flat rolled products – 121.2 thousand tons (-2.6% y/y).

In January-September Spanish steelmakers reduced steel production by 5.7% compared to the same period last year – 8.49 million tons. In September, Spain increased steel production by 5.3% y/y and 35.3% m/m – up to 1.07 million tons.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022 Spain reduced steel production by 19.2% compared to 2021 – to 11.46 million tons. In December, the country’s steelmakers produced 686,000 tons of steel, which is 19.8% less than the previous month.