The main part of the import fell on
long-rolled goods – 593.47 thousand tons
In 2023, Germany reduced imports of rolled steel products from third
countries by 31.9% compared to 2022, to 759.99 thousand tons. This is based on
GMK Center’s calculations based on Eurostat data.
Imports of
flat products decreased by 20.1% y/y and imports of long products by 34.6% y/y
– to 166.52 thousand tons and 593.47 thousand tons, respectively. Long products
accounted for more than 78% of total steel imports to Germany in 2023.
Rebar
accounted for the bulk of imports – 137.17 million tons (-46.4% y/y), other
rods and bars of other alloy steels, for drilling – 111.1 thousand tons (-30.3%
y/y), and wire rod – 84.36 thousand tons (-33.3% y/y).
In December,
imports of rolled steel products to Germany totaled 38.77 thousand tons, up
3.5% y–y. Supplies of long products decreased by 14.2% y/y – to 26.65 thousand
tons, while flat products increased by 89.9% y/y – to 12.1 thousand tons.
Last year,
steel exports from Germany decreased by 7.8% compared to 2022, to 3.36 million
tons. In particular, exports of long products decreased by 5% y/y – to 1.4 million
tons, and flat products by 9.7% y/y – to 1.96 million tons.
The largest
exports were of coated flat products – 637.2 thousand tons (-8.5% y/y), flat
products of other alloy steels – 433.1 thousand tons (-15.4% y/y), and angles,
shapes and special sections of non-alloy steel – 418.7 thousand tons (+22.9%
y/y).
In December,
Germany exported 220.4 thousand tons of rolled steel, which is 17.5% less
compared to December 2022. Exports of long products fell by 21.5% y/y – to
76.06 thousand tons, and flat products by 15.1% y/y – to 144.35 thousand tons.
As GMK Center reported earlier, Germany is among the ten largest steel
producers in the world according to World Steel. In 2023, the country reduced output of steel by 3.9% compared to 2022 –
to 35.4 million tons, taking 8th place in the world ranking of producing
countries.
Steel
smelting in converters fell by 0.9% y/y over the year – to 25.63 million tons,
and in electric arc furnaces – by 10.8% y/y, to 9.81 million tons. Iron
production decreased by 0.9% y/y, to 23.63 million t. The output of rolled
steel amounted to 30.64 million tons, which is 3.6% less y/y.