Spain reduced rolled steel exports by 24.4% m/m in January

Spanish steel enterprises in January 2025 reduced exports of rolled steel products to third countries by 1.6% compared to the same month a year earlier, to 120.85 thousand tons. Compared to the previous month, the figure fell by 24.4%. This is according to GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

Exports of long products decreased by 19.5% y/y and 44.5% m/m – to 71.67 thousand tons, while exports of flat products increased by 45.5% y/y and 60.2% m/m to 49.18 thousand tons. Angles, shapes and special sections made of non-alloy steel (HS-7216) accounted for the largest shipments, amounting to 42.43 thousand tons (-3.1% y/y and -46.9% m/m), flat products made of carbon steel, hot-rolled, unclad, without galvanic or other coating (HS – 7225) – 22.03 thousand tons (+3.2 times y/y; +3.2 times m/m), coated flat products (HS-7210) – 12.68 thousand tons (+5.5% y/y; +32.3% m/m), and other rods and bars of other alloy steels; hollow rods and bars for drilling of alloy or non-alloy steels (HS – 7228) – 7.81 thousand tons (+11.1% y/y, +68% m/m).

In January 2025, imports of rolled products by Spanish consumers fell by 11.7% y/y and increased 3.3 times m/m – to 617.87 thousand tons. In particular, shipments of long products amounted to 69 thousand tons (-18.7% y/y, +52.9% m/m), and flat products – 548.87 thousand tons (-10.7% y/y, +3.8 times m/m).

Key imported products include:

• hot-rolled flat products (HS-7208) – 247.48 thousand tons (-39.6% y/y; +3.5 times m/m)
• coated flat products (HS-7210) – 249.77 thousand tons (+83.7% y/y; +9.7 times m/m);
• cold-rolled flat products (HS – 7209) – 31.54 thousand tons (-29.1% y/y; -6.3% m/m);
• other rods and bars of other alloy steels; hollow rods and bars for drilling of alloy or non-alloy steels (HS – 7228) – 26.49 thousand tons (+8 times y/y; +83.9% m/m).

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2024, Spain increased steel production by 3.3% compared to 2023, to 11.82 million tons. In December, Spanish steelmakers produced 870 thousand tons of steel (-14.3% m/m; +16% y/y). The average monthly steel production in 2024 amounted to 985.2 thousand tons, while in 2023 – 954.3 thousand tons, and in 2022 – 964.4 thousand tons.