In January-August this year, Ukrainian enterprises reduced their consumption of rolled metal products by 1.46% year-on-year to 2 million 298.1 thousand tons.
According to a press release issued by Ukrmetallurgprom on Monday, 833.1 thousand tons, or 36.25% of the domestic rolled metal consumption market, were imported during this period.
According to Ukrmetallurgprom, in January-August 2024, steel companies produced 4.318 million tons of rolled metal products (126.6% compared to the same period in 2023). According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, about 2.853 million tons, or 66.1%, were exported. In January-August 2023, the share of exports amounted to 52.5% (1.790 million tons against a total rolled steel production of 3.410 million tons).
The share of semi-finished products in export deliveries in January-August 2024 amounted to 46.83%, which is almost the same as in January-August 2023 (45.47%).
The share of flat products in export deliveries for the first eight months of this year is significantly higher than in January-August 2023 (39.19% and 34.97%, respectively). The share of long products is significantly lower than in January-August 2023 (13.99% vs. 19.55%).
“In the first eight months of 2024, the domestic market capacity amounted to 2 million 298.1 thousand tons of rolled steel, of which 833.1 thousand tons, or 36.25%, were imported. In January-August 2023, the domestic market capacity amounted to 2 million 328.1 thousand tons, of which 708.1 thousand tons, or 30.42%, were imported. Thus, in the first eight months of this year, there was a decrease in the domestic market capacity by 1.46% compared to the first eight months of last year, with a simultaneous increase in the share of the import component by 5.84%,” the press release states.
The structure of imports for the period under review is still characterized by a significant dominance of flat products over long products (79.74% and 18.80%, respectively). In January-August 2023, the dominance of flat products over long products was also significant (80.30% and 18.71%, respectively).
According to the State Customs Service, the main export markets for Ukrainian rolled steel products in January-August were the European Union (72.0%), Africa (9.7%) and the rest of Europe (7.2%).
Among metallurgical importers, the first place is occupied by other European countries (49.2%), the second – by the EU-27 (28.5%), and the third – by Asian countries (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 rolled steel consumption market.
