Czech Republic increased imports of rolled products from third countries by 12.8% y/y in November

In November 2023, the Czech Republic increased imports of rolled steel products from third countries by 12.8% compared to November 2022, up to 20.04 thousand tons. This is based on GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

In November, imports of flat products increased by 81.5% y/y, while imports of long products decreased by 32.7% y/y – to 12.84 kt and 7.2 kt, respectively. Flat products accounted for about 64% of total steel imports to the Czech Republic in November.

Hot-rolled flat products accounted for the bulk of imports in November, with 6.8 thousand tons (+141.2% y/y), coated products – 2.38 thousand tons (+24.2% y/y), and carbon steel wire – 2.27 thousand tons (-26.9% y/y).

In January-November, imports of rolled steel products to the Czech Republic amounted to 224.81 thousand tons, down 10.5% compared to the same period in 2022. Imports of long products fell by 26.7% y/y – to 105.12 thousand tons during this period, while imports of flat products increased by 11% y/y – to 119.69 thousand tons.

The main types of products imported by Czech consumers in 11 months of 2023 are:

• hot-rolled flat products – 58.9 thousand tons (+71.3% y/y);
• hot-rolled rods and bars made of carbon steel, in bundles – 22.7 thousand tons (-12.3% y/y);
• cold-rolled flat products – 20.23 thousand tons (+34.8% y/y);
• coated flat rolled products – 17.2 thousand tons (-33% y/y).

In November 2023, steel exports from the Czech Republic decreased by 26.3% y/y – to 10.65 thousand tons. Shipments of long products decreased by 33.5% y/y – to 8.33 thousand tons, while shipments of flat products increased by 21.3% y/y – to 2.32 thousand tons. In January-November, the figure increased by 9% y/y, to 161.2 thousand tons, in particular, flat products – by 9.7% y/y, to 22.99 thousand tons, and long products – by 8.9% y/y, to 138.23 thousand tons.

The largest exports were of other rods and bars of other alloy steels, hollow rods and bars for drilling – 31.34 thousand tons (+8.5% y/y), and other rods and bars of carbon steel, without further processing, twisted – 25.27 thousand tons (-2.4% y/y).

In 2023, the Czech Republic reduced steel production by 21.1% compared to 2022, to 3.4 million tons. As a result, the country ranked 39th in the global steel producer ranking WorldSteel. The sharp decline in steel production in the country is likely due to problems at Liberty Steel Ostrava.