Ukraine imported 908.2 thousand tons of flat rolled products in 2023

In 2023, Ukraine increased imports of flat products by 93.2% compared to 2022, up to 908.2 thousand tons. The cost of imports increased by 48.4% y/y – to $1.03 billion over the year. This is evidenced by the data of the State Customs Service.

In December 2023, imports of flat products to Ukraine increased by 3.2% compared to the previous month and by 32.1% compared to December 2022, to 77.15 thousand tons. Import costs amounted to $79.09 million, up 1.3% m/m and 14.6% y/y.

In 2023, Ukraine imported most of all coated flat products with a width of 600 mm and more (HS 7210) – 438.08 thousand tons for $514.46 million. In December, imports of such products decreased by 3.2% m/m – to 31.04 thousand tons, and purchase costs amounted to $33.16 million (-6.3% m/m).

Also, the company imported 313.82 thousand tons of uncoated hot-rolled flat products with a width of 600 mm and more (HS 7208) for $269.75 million, and in December – 29.91 thousand tons (+5.4% m/m) for $23.03 million (+2.1% m/m).

Cold-rolled flat products made of uncoated carbon steel with a width of 600 mm or more (HS 7209) were among the top three types of flat products in terms of imports to Ukraine in 2023, with 80.03 thousand tons worth $69.5 million. In December, shipments of such products to Ukraine increased by 20.7% m/m – to 10.83 thousand tons, and in monetary terms – by 13.4% m/m, to $8.35 million.

The largest suppliers of coated flat products with a width of 600 mm and more in 2023 were China, Turkiye and Poland – 22.5%, 25.7% and 15.8% in monetary terms, respectively. Turkiye (45.7%), Slovakia (17.9%) and Romania (12.5%) shipped more than 70% of uncoated hot-rolled flat products with a width of 600 mm and more. Turkiye was the main supplier of uncoated cold-rolled flat products (62.8%).

The sharp increase in imports is due to the destruction of Mariupol steel mills that specialized in flat products. In addition, there is the impact of a low comparison base – in the first half of last year, economic activity was low due to the hostilities. Consequently, imports were not at the top of the agenda.

Imports of flat products are expected to grow in the long term, especially during the post-war recovery period. Imports will be the main source of supply to meet domestic demand. In the short term, imports will stabilize at a certain level, given the existing logistical constraints in the war.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of flat products by 32.8% compared to 2021, to 472.01 thousand tons. The cost of imports decreased by 24.1% y/y – to $698.83 million. The largest suppliers of products were Turkiye, Poland, Slovakia and China.