In January-September this year, Ukrainian enterprises reduced their consumption of rolled steel by 6.92% year-on-year to 2.425 million tons.
According to a press release from Ukrmetallurgprom, 927 thousand tons, or 38.23% of the domestic rolled metal consumption market, were imported during this period.
According to Ukrmetallurgprom, in January-September 2014, steel companies produced 4.821 million tons of rolled metal products (122.7% compared to the same period in 2023). According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, about 3.323 million tons, or 68.9%, were exported. In January-September 2013, the share of exports amounted to 54.5% (2.142 million tons against a total rolled steel production of 3.929 million tons).
The share of semi-finished products in export deliveries in January-September 2024 amounted to 46.98%, which is almost the same as in January-September 2023 (45.10%). The share of flat products in export deliveries in 9M2024 is slightly higher than in January-September 2023 (39.03% and 36.65%, respectively). The share of long products is significantly lower than in January-September 2023 (13.99% in 2024 vs. 18.25% in 2023).
“In the first nine months of 2024, the domestic market capacity amounted to 2.425 million tons of rolled steel, of which 927 thousand tons, or 38.23%, were imported. In January-September 2023, the domestic market capacity amounted to 2 million 605.4 thousand tons, of which 818.4 thousand tons, or 31.41%, were imported. Thus, in the first nine months of 2024, there was a decrease in the domestic market capacity by 6.92% compared to the first nine months of 2023, with a simultaneous increase in the share of the import component by 6.82%,” the press release states.
The structure of imports in January-September 2024 is still characterized by a significant dominance of flat products over long products (79.36% and 19.19%, respectively). In January-September 2023, the dominance of flat products over long products was also significant (80.78% and 18.29%, respectively).
According to the State Customs Service, the main export markets for Ukrainian rolled steel products in January-September 2024 were the European Union (69.6%), Africa (11.7%) and the rest of Europe (7.6%).
Other European countries ranked first among metallurgical importers in the period under review (49.6%), followed by the EU-27 (28.2%), and Asia (20.6%).
As reported, Ukraine’s rolled steel market increased 2.19 times in 2023 compared to 2022, to 3 million 505.6 thousand tons. The company imported 1 million 118.6 thousand tons, or 31.91% of the domestic market for these products.
