Unesid noted violations in the import of steel products for green energy

Incorrect declaration damages the economy and the local market

The Spanish steelmakers’ association Unesid has informed the country’s tax authorities that pipes and steel profiles of non-European origin are being imported without complying with EU trade rules, Kallanish reports.

These products are used in the construction of photovoltaic power plants.

«Some importers declare these products as solar structures to avoid EU steel import rules, just because they have a certain perforation,» noted Unesid Director General Andres Barcelo.

He believes that this misclassification causes serious damage to the market and the local economy.

According to the Spanish tax authorities, in June-August, imports of such steel products of Chinese origin reached 21.9 thousand tons, while total imports from third countries amounted to 25.68 thousand tons.

Spain is currently actively investing in sustainable energy projects to meet the EU’s decarbonization goals. In 2022, almost 4.5 GW of photovoltaic installations were installed, bringing the total capacity to 19.8 GW. The country’s goal is to reach a capacity of 65 GW in 2030, which will require about 100 thousand tons of pipes and profiles per year.

According to Barceló, this significant investment can create a lot of added value locally, as the country has an industry capable of producing these materials at a competitive level.

«Therefore, it is important that these materials, which come from outside the EU, are subject to protective duties in accordance with the provisions of the customs legislation,» summarized the Director General of Unesid.

As GMK Center reported earlier, the Spanish steel companies in September 2023 increased production of steel by 35.3% compared to the previous month – up to 1.07 million tons. Compared to September 2022, the indicator increased by 5.3%. In January-September 2023, steel production decreased by 5.7% year-on-year.