EUROFER: Steel exports from the EU will decrease by 12% in 2025, trade deficit will increase
According to a report by the Economic Committee of the European Steel Manufacturers Association (EUROFER) "Economic and steel market prospects for 2026-2027/Q1 2025", the total volume of steel exports from EU countries to foreign markets decreased by 12% year-on-year for the whole of 2025. Exports of finished products and flat rolled products decreased by 11% and eight%, respectively, while exports of long products decreased by 17% year-on-year.
According to information published by EUROFER, in 2025, the main steel export destinations from the EU were the United Kingdom, the United States, Turkey, Switzerland and India. These five areas together accounted for 59% of the total exports of finished goods from the EU. The countries where exports of finished steel products from the EU increased year-on-year were Algeria (by 39%), Great Britain (by five%), as well as India and Switzerland (by one percent).
Exports decreased in all major categories of flat rolled products, which was reflected in a significant decrease in prices for cold-rolled sheets by 20% and thick-rolled products by 11%. Shipments of rolled products also decreased in all major categories: rebar - by 35%, wire rod - by 25%, heavy profiles - by 15%, and rolled products - by nine%.
The EU steel trade deficit increased markedly in 2025, reaching about 2 million tons per month, including semi-finished products, compared with 1.4 million tons in 2024. As for finished steel products, the deficit increased to 1.2 million tons per month due to flat rolled products (1.1 million tons) and long products (156,000 tons). In 2024, the shortage of finished steel was 890,000 tons per month, while the shortage of flat rolled products was slightly offset by a small surplus in long grades.
.South Korea, Turkey, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, India, Ukraine, and Vietnam had the largest deficits in 2025, while the EU posted the largest surpluses with the United States, Britain, and Switzerland.
Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team
Steelorbis.com