EU Hot-Rolled Coil Import Trends Analysis

This technical report presents an analysis of the European Union's hot-rolled coil (HRC) import trends for the first half of 2023. It details a significant decline in HRC imports, which fell by 7.5% year-on-year to 4.44 million tons, with a notable slump in June where imports dropped to 786,300 tons, representing a 27% decrease from May. The report outlines the changing composition of imports, highlighting that Asian suppliers now contribute over 70% of total imports, a rise from approximately 50% in June 2022. The report further examines the domestic supply situation, noting that overall HRC supply in June was at its lowest since February, attributed to mill outages and reduced capacity utilization. It also discusses the implications of safeguard quotas and the performance of various suppliers, including India, South Korea, and Turkey, providing insights into market dynamics and future expectations for HRC imports in the EU.