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Feb 4, 2025

Global Steel Trade Faces Significant Challenges amid Rising Trade Barriers

The steel industry is grappling with mounting trade restrictions as it heads into 2025, according to a detailed study by the GMK Center (source). This analysis highlights the pressing challenges due to regionalization in trade, driven largely by nations erecting barriers to protect local industries.

For the European Union, data from the IndexBox platform reveals that Germany led the way in flat hot-rolled steel coil exports in 2024, with a value of $1.7 billion. Following closely were Belgium with exports valued at $1.6 billion, France at $1.4 billion, and the Netherlands at $1.3 billion. Slovakia also contributed with exports worth $614.9 million.

On the import side, Italy topped the list with $4 billion worth of flat hot-rolled steel coil imports in 2024. Spain followed with imports valued at $2.4 billion, Poland with $1.3 billion, Belgium at $1.2 billion, and Germany at $1.1 billion.

These trade dynamics are part of a broader trend of protectionism, driven by excess global steelmaking capacities and geopolitical tensions. The GMK Center notes that, despite a slow recovery from high interest rates, excess capacities continue to fuel global exports, compelling countries to adopt protective measures.

Moreover, anti-dumping investigations have intensified, especially against Asian countries. In the first half of 2024 alone, there were 32 such investigations affecting iron and steel products, with half targeting China. This targeted approach aims to curb increasingly unwanted import pressures.

The European market's vulnerability is further emphasized by potential implications if existing trade agreements, such as tariff-free steel supply agreements with the U.S., are compromised. This could jeopardize approximately 4 million tons of European steel products, propelling calls from steelmakers and associations for more stringent import restrictions.

As the landscape evolves, industry and policymakers are faced with the conundrum of balancing protections with market fairness. Suggestions, such as those from the OECD, propose tackling the issue of excess capacity more systematically. However, such solutions may take years to manifest, leaving many developing countries to struggle under enduring limitations and the European market in a precarious position.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    • United States
    • China
    • Japan
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Brazil
    • Italy
    • Russian Federation
    • India
    • Canada
    • Australia
    • Republic of Korea
    • Spain
    • Mexico
    • Indonesia
    • Netherlands
    • Turkey
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Switzerland
    • Sweden
    • Nigeria
    • Poland
    • Belgium
    • Argentina
    • Norway
    • Austria
    • Thailand
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Colombia
    • Denmark
    • South Africa
    • Malaysia
    • Israel
    • Singapore
    • Egypt
    • Philippines
    • Finland
    • Chile
    • Ireland
    • Pakistan
    • Greece
    • Portugal
    • Kazakhstan
    • Algeria
    • Czech Republic
    • Qatar
    • Peru
    • Romania
    • Vietnam

  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2024
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)

  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2024
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2024
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)

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