According to the statistics released by the Italian steel producers' association Federacciai, in the first five months of 2010 Italy's steel product exports excluding EU destinations totaled 2.22 million metric tons, up 20.2 percent, while its steel product imports from countries outside the European Union (EU) reached 3.33 million metric tons, increasing by 26.2 percent, both compared to the corresponding period of 2009.
In the period in question, Italy's semi-finished steel product exports to non-EU countries amounted to 223,000 metric tons, up 112.4 percent year on year. Meanwhile, the country's semi-finished steel product imports from non-EU member states reached 1.49 million metric tons, up 62.2 percent year on year.
In January-May, Italy's exports of long products to non-EU countries totaled 583,000 metric tons, down 18.8 percent, while its long product imports from these countries increased by 6.3 percent to 254,000 metric tons, both compared to January-May 2009.
On the other hand, during the given period, Italy's flat product exports to non-EU countries amounted to 840,000 metric tons, with a year-on-year increase of 86.7 percent, while its flat product imports from non-EU countries reached 1.41 million metric tons, up 11.4 percent year on year.