According to the Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2014-2015/Q3 2014 Report from the Economic Committee of the European Steel Association (EUROFER), in the first quarter of 2014 total EU steel exports decreased by 2.6 percent year on year. Flat steel exports remained stable compared to the same quarter of the previous year, while long steel exports decreased approximately by 3.5 percent, year on year.
EUROFER stated that, over the first four months of 2014, the EU remained a net exporter, with total net trade in steel averaging some 168,000 mt per month.
During the first quarter of the current year, rebar, wire rod and beams remained the most exported long steel products. As far as the key destinations for EU exports of long products are concerned, Algeria remained the main outlet for EU long product exports.
According to EUROFER, the outlook for 2014 and 2015 is for a slight rise in third country exports based on the assumption of global steel demand strengthening modestly on a par with the global economic and steel market fundamentals.