EU steel imports in the first quarter of 2020

In the first quarter of 2020, the total import volume of EU-28 countries, including semi-finished steel products, from third countries decreased significantly by 20% year-on-year.

In the first four months of 2020, EU finished steel imports decreased by 16% year-on-year, including 17% for flat steel products and 11% for long products.

In terms of varieties, EU finished steel imports decreased after a substantial increase in 2018, which continued to exist in 2019 and continued until April 2020, although there were some fluctuations in the middle.

According to customs data, in the first quarter of 2020, the import volume of EU flat steel products decreased by 22% year on year. In the first four months of 2020, the import volume of EU flat steel products decreased by 17%. Meanwhile, the import volume of long products decreased by 17% in the first quarter of 2020 and 11% in the first four months of 2020. Long products accounted for 21% of the total imports of finished steel products.

In terms of flat steel products, in the first four months of 2020, the import of hot-rolled wide strip steel decreased by 32% year-on-year, and the import of hot-dip galvanized sheet decreased by 21% year-on-year.