Italy’s steel imports from non-EU countries fall in H1, exports rise

According to data released by the Italian steel producers association Federacciai, steel trade between Italy and non-EU countries in the January-June period this year continued its previous trends: imports fell but exports increased.

Italy imported about 5.18 million mt from non-EU countries in the January-June period this year, down by 15.8 percent compared to the same period in 2022. Exports, on the other hand, amounted to 1.71 million mt, up by 5.5 percent year on year.

Imports of long products decreased by 4.3 percent compared to the January-June period of 2022, while imports of flat products fell by 19.5 percent year on year. Parallel-flanged beam imports increased by 100 percent, while imports of other beams rose by 300 percent. Rebar imports grew by 120 percent, whereas imports of merchant bars (flats) were up 100 percent. In the flat products segment, imports of hot rolled coil fell by 2.1 percent, imports of cold rolled sheets were down by 54.7 percent, imports of hot dip galvanized sheet declined by 38 percent and imports of organically coated sheets fell by 51.5 percent, year on year.

Exports of long products in the January-June period this year rose by 20.9 percent, while exports of flat products showed a 2.7 percent increase, year on year. Rail and rigging exports were up by 166.7 percent, parallel-flanged beam exports by 100 percent, other beam exports rose by 125 percent and rebar exports by 37.5 percent. Wire rod exports amounted to 143,000 mt in the January-June period, versus 106,000 mt in the same period of 2022. Flat product exports showed an upward trend for hot rolled sheets and wide plates, namely, up 35 percent for a total of 162,000 mt. Hot dip galvanized sheet exports were also positive, up by 31.9 percent year on year. In the longs segment, downward variations were recorded for wide flange beams (-54.5 percent) and merchant bars (sections), which decreased by 16.7 percent. As for flats, coil exports were down by 57.5 percent and exports of coated plates decreased by 33.3 percent.

1st manufacturing products recorded a 20.5 percent increase in imports and a three percent decrease in exports. On the other hand, 2nd manufacturing products recorded a 28.8 percent decrease in imports and a 2.6 percent decrease in exports.

(*) Heavy structural shapes and scaffolding material, welded sections, pipe fittings, flanges, checker plate, grit, and powder.