Italian flat steel imports up almost 30 percent in 2010

According to statistics contained in the 2010 annual report of Federacciai, the Italian steel producers' association, in 2010 Italian apparent consumption of flat steel amounted to 14.5 million mt, up 28 percent year on year. Total deliveries from domestic producers of flat steel rose by 28.2 percent year on year.

In 2010, Italy's flat steel imports (9.4 million mt), which as always were considerably higher than those of long rolled steel (2.2 million mt), increased by 29.4 percent year on year; of this figure, imports from non-EU countries (3.8 million mt) were up 37.8 percent compared to 2009.

With reference to the exports of flat steel products, in 2010 they rose by 33.1 percent year on year to 6.8 million mt; in particular, flat steel exports destined to non-EU countries increased by 20 percent compared to those of the previous year.

Imports of coils up 35.6 percent

In particular, in 2010 imports of steel coils (both hot rolled and cold rolled) were up 35.6 percent to 4.6 million mt. Exports of coil, however, amounted to 1.8 million mt, increasing by 24.3 percent over the previous year.

The overall trade balance for coils in 2010 was negative with net imports of 2.7 million mt.

Exports of cold rolled sheets increased by 37.7%

As for cold rolled sheets, in 2010 total imports reached 1.5 million mt, increasing by 18.5 percent year on year. Of these, 467,000 mt came from countries outside the EU, while the others, coming from EU countries, rose by 29.1 percent year on year.

In 2010, Italy's exports of cold rolled sheet destined to EU countries (amounting to 1 million mt) rose 37.7 percent year on year, while those directed to other countries (234,000 mt) were up 22.6 percent year on year.

The balance of foreign trade improved slightly from a deficit of 315,000 mt in 2009 to a deficit of 219,000 mt in 2010.

Positive trade balance for hot rolled plates and wide flats

In regard to hot rolled plates and wide flats, in 2010 Italy's total imports reached 494,000 mt, increasing 15.6 percent year on year. The part of the Italian market covered by imports amounted to 25.3 percent, slightly up from 24.2 percent in 2009.

In 2010, exports of hot rolled plates and wide flats saw an increase of 30.1 percent year on year, to 1.6 million mt. The balance of foreign trade, still positive, has increased from 798,000 mt in 2009 to 1.1 million mt in 2010.

Hot dip galvanized sheets: foreign trade balance positive for first time in 10 years

Finally, with regard to hot dip galvanized sheets and sheets with other metallic coatings, in 2010 imports totaled 1.1 million mt, growing by 36.9 percent compared to 2009. Of these, those from EU countries amounted to 852,000 mt (+41.1 percent), while those from non-EU countries stood at 276,000 mt (+25.2 percent). The overall balance of trade with foreign countries was positive for the first time in the last 10 years, thanks to trade with EU countries; the balance of trade with countries outside the EU remained negative at 64,000 mt.