The EU reduced steel exports by 8% y/y in January-August – EUROFER

In January-August 2025, the European Union reduced exports of metal products to third countries by 8% compared to the same period last year. This is stated in the EUROFER Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2025–2026, IV quarter report.

The decline primarily affected finished metal products, whose shipments fell by 9% y/y. Long products showed particularly weak dynamics, with exports falling by 15% y/y, while sales of flat products decreased by 6% y/y.

This contrasts with 2024, when exports of finished products grew by 4% y/y thanks to an increase in shipments of both flat (+4% y/y) and long products (+3% y/y). However, in 2025, the market failed to maintain its growth, with demand for European steel outside the EU falling significantly.

The main export destinations were the UK, the US, Turkey, Switzerland, and India. Together, they accounted for 59% of all finished product shipments. Despite the overall decline, exports to the UK grew by 14% y/y (274,000 tons), to India by 28% (35,000 tons), and to Algeria by as much as 83% (29,000 tons). On the other hand, sales to the US decreased by 17% y/y (184 thousand tons), to Turkey – by 12% (161 thousand tons), to China – by 25% (30 thousand tons), and to Egypt – by 32% (26 thousand tons). The markets of Norway (27 thousand tons) and Switzerland (113 thousand tons) also showed negative dynamics.

In terms of products, the decline in exports affected all key types of flat rolled products: cold-rolled products – by 19% y/y, thick-gauge products – by 10%, galvanized products – by 5%, and hot-dip galvanized products – by 4%. The only item with positive dynamics was hot-rolled coils, whose exports grew by 6% y/y.

In the long products segment, the decline was more pronounced. Supplies of rebar fell by 31% y/y (57 thousand tons), wire rod by 19% (99 thousand tons), I-beams by 14% (128 thousand tons), and shaped products by 9% (68 thousand tons). Thus, long products made the largest negative contribution to the overall decline in exports.

According to EUROFER forecasts, apparent steel consumption in the EU will begin to recover in 2026, increasing by 3%. This will happen provided that industrial conditions improve and global tensions ease, but these factors remain difficult to predict at this time. At the same time, in 2025, the indicator will decline for the fourth consecutive year.