The main indicators of the steel industry in Bulgaria fell in the second quarter. The production of crude steel and finished products decreased compared to the previous three months and year on year, according to the latest quarterly report of the Bulgarian Association of Metallurgical Industry (BAMI).
Crude steel production in the second quarter reached 133.3 thousand tons. tons, which is 14.8 thousand tons less than in January-March, and 11.1% less than in the same period last year. Steel production in the first half of the year reached 281,400 tons, which is 2.3% less than in January-June 2022.
Meanwhile, the output of finished products fell by 11.9 thousand tons compared to quarter to 260 thousand tons and was also 18.1% less than a year earlier. Of this volume, the production of long products amounted to 199.3 thousand tons, which is 2.2% less than in the previous quarter, and 20% lower than in the previous quarter.
Production of flat products in the second quarter reached only 60,700 tons, which is 19.3% and 10.9% less than in the first quarter and compared to the same period last year, respectively.
The production of rolled products for six months amounted to 538, 9 thousand tons, down 10.4% compared to the same period last year.
Steel exports from Bulgaria in April-June increased by 32,200 tons qoq to 210,200 tons, but were at 7.2% down from 226,400 tons shipped overseas in the second quarter of 2022. The export of long products amounted to 154,000 tons of the total supply. Exports in the first half of the year reached 388.2 thousand tons, which is 8.9% less than last year.
Meanwhile, domestic demand slowed down during this period. Steel sales in the second quarter amounted to 54.7 thousand tons, down 28.8% QoQ and 11.5% YoY, respectively. Sales for the six months were 131,500 tons, up 1,000 tons from the first half of 2022, confirms BAMI.
