Ukraine imported 167.13 thousand tons of long rolled products in 2023

Import volumes increased by 28% compared to 2022

In 2023, Ukraine increased imports of long steel products by 28% compared to 2022, to 167.13 thousand tons. Import costs for the year increased by 17.4% y/y – to $174.61 million. This is evidenced by the data of the State Customs Service.

In December 2023, Ukrainian consumers imported 8.41 thousand tons of long products, down 17% month-on-month and 34.2% y/y. Import costs decreased by 7.1% m/m and 31.8% y/y – to $9.67 million.

In 2023, Ukraine imported the most angles, shapes and special profiles made of non-alloy steel (HS 7216) – 65.67 thousand tons worth $56.84 million. In December, the company supplied 4.15 thousand tons (-33.4% m/m) for $3.5 million (-33.3% m/m). Also, 62.34 thousand tons worth $48.17 million of other rods and bars of twisted form without further processing (HS 7214) were imported, in December – 1.76 thousand tons (-11.7% m/m) for $1.63 million (+7.7% m/m).

Other rods and bars made of alloy steels, hollow rods and bars for drilling made of alloy or non-alloy steels (HS 7228) ranked third in terms of long products supplied to Ukraine, with 14.45 thousand tons worth $26.58 million. In December, shipments of such products to Ukraine increased by 26% month-on-month – to 0.6 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 86.1% m/m – to $1.65 million.

Turkiye is the largest supplier of angles, shapes and special profiles made of unalloyed steel, accounting for 71% in monetary terms. Turkiye and Poland are the main exporters of other rods and bars, not further processed, with 63.3% and 19.8% respectively. Germany (38.3%) and Turkiye (18.7%) shipped about 60% of other bars and rods made of alloy steels, hollow bars and drill bars made of alloy or non-alloy steels.

As GMK Center analyst Andriy Glushchenko previously predicted, imports of rolled steel will increase in the long term, especially during the post-war reconstruction period. Imports will become the main source to meet domestic demand. In the short term, we can expect imports to stabilize at a certain level that will take into account the existing logistical constraints in the war.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of long products by 70.5% compared to 2021 – to 96.06 thousand tons. Import costs for the year decreased by 60.6% y/y – to $113.65 million.

Exports of long products from Ukraine in 2022 amounted to 748.95 thousand tons, which is 59.7% less than in 2021. In monetary terms, supplies of such products fell by 54.3% m/m – to $23.84 million.