Ukraine imported 7.7 thousand tons of long rolled products in January 2023

In January 2023, Ukraine reduced the import of long rolled steel by 4% compared to December 2022 – to 7,696 thousand tons. Import costs for the month decreased by 1% m/m – to $9.4 million. This is evidenced by State Customs Service’s data.

Compared to January 2022, Ukraine reduced the import of long-rolled goods in January 2023 by 62.5% in physical terms, and by 55% in monetary terms.

In January 2023, the most imported goods to Ukraine were other twisted wire rods and bars without further processing (Nomenclature – 7214) – 5 thousand tons (-47.1% y/y and +4% m/m) worth $4.13 million (-45% y/y and +2.3% m/m). 1.15 thousand tons (-66.3% y/y and -27.7% m/m) of other wire rods and bars made of alloyed steels, hollow wire rods and bars for drilling made of alloyed or non-alloyed steels (Nomenclature – 7228) for $1.88 million (-47.1% y/y and -1.1% m/m) were also imported.

The three leaders among the types of long rolled products imported into Ukraine in January 2023 are closed by wire made of other alloyed steels (Nomenclature code – 7229) – 0.64 thousand tons for $1.01 million. This is by 36.5% y/y and 2.6% m/m less in natural terms, as well as by 37.5% y/y and 1.7% m/m less in monetary terms.

The largest suppliers of other twisted wire rods and bars without further processing are Turkiye and Bulgaria – 73.94% and 21.77%, respectively, in monetary terms. Germany (68.62%) and China (11.35%) shipped about 80% of other alloy steel bars and wire rods, hollow wire rods and drill bars of alloy or non-alloy steels. The main supplier of alloy wire is Germany and China – 42.99% and 41.79%.

As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several steel enterprises remained in the temporarily occupied territory, including the largest steel plants Azovstal and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works. Enterprises located in the territory under control are operating at minimum capacity due to problems with logistics, the unfavorable situation on the global steel markets, and interruptions in energy supply due to the shelling of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure by Russian forces.

The problems of Ukrainian steel industry in the near future may provoke an increase in the import of steel products to the domestic market.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022, Ukraine reduced the import of long rolled steel by 70.5% compared to 2021 – to 96.06 thousand tons. Import costs for the year decreased by 60.6% y/y – to $113.65 million.

Export of long rolled steel from Ukraine in 2022 amounted to 748.95 thousand tons, which is 59.7% less than in 2021. In monetary terms, deliveries of such products fell by 54.3% m/m – to $23.84 million.