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

According to data released by the Italian steel producers association Federacciai, steel trade between Italy and non-EU countries in the January May period this year continued the previous trends: imports fell but exports increased, although to a lesser extent compared to the January-April period.

Italy imported about 4.40 million mt from non-EU countries in the January-May period this year, down by 16.8 percent compared to the same period in 2022. Exports, on the other hand, amounted to 1.40 million mt, up by 3.1 percent year on year.

However, imports of long products increased by 1.6 percent compared to the January-May period of 2022, whereas imports of flat products fell by 23.3 percent year on year. More specifically, imports of wide flange beams decreased by 20.0 percent. On the other hand, parallel-flanged beams increased by 50 percent, while imports of other beams rose by 200 percent. Rebar imports grew by 120 percent, whereas imports of merchant bars (sections) were up 23.1 percent. In the flat products segment, imports of hot rolled coil fell by 50.0 percent, imports of cold rolled sheets were down by 56.3 percent, imports of hot dip galvanized sheet declined by 52.3 percent and imports of organically coated sheets fell by 68.7 percent.

Exports of long products in the January-May period this year rose by 18.5 percent, whereas no changes were registered for flat products. Rails and rigging were up by 153.8 percent, parallel-flanged beams by 83.3 percent, other beams by 100 percent and rebar by 48.1 percent. Wire rod exports amounted to 113,000 mt in the January-May period, versus 90,000 mt in the same period of 2022. Flat product exports showed an upward trend for hot rolled sheets and wide plates, namely, up 26.7 percent for a total of 128,000 mt. Hot dip galvanized sheet exports were also positive, up by 27.1 percent year on year. In the longs segment, downward variations were recorded for wide flange beams (-44.4 percent) and merchant bars (sections), which decreased by 27.3 percent. As for flats, coil exports were down by 55.7 percent and exports of coated plates coated decreased by 40.0 percent.

1st manufacturing products recorded a 26.1 percent increase in imports and a 4.4 percent decrease in exports. On the other hand, 2nd manufacturing products recorded a 27.1 percent decrease in imports and a 3.2 percent decrease in exports.  

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