According to the Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2012-2013/Q4 2012 Report from the Economic Committee of the European Steel Association (EUROFER), in the second quarter of 2012 steel imports from third countries into the EU fell 31 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. This downtrend continued during the summer months, leading to a 32 percent year-on-year decrease in the first eight months of the year.
In January-August, the sharpest decline was observed in flat products, which were 38 percent lower compared to the first eight months of 2011. Meanwhile, long product imports fell 19 percent, while semi-finished steel registered a 25 percent decrease, both year on year.
Total imports from Ukraine, Russia and China accounted for almost 65 percent of total imports of steel products arriving in the EU in the given period.
For 2012, EUROFER expects total steel imports to fall around 26 percent, while EU steel demand expected to stabilize in 2013 at the 2012 level will result in imports rising by around three percent.