Eastern Europe: Cold-Rolled Steel Products Market 2025

Cold-Rolled Steel Products Market Size in Eastern Europe

For the seventh year in a row, the East European cold-rolled steel products market recorded growth in sales value, which increased by 39% to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, consumption enjoyed a buoyant expansion. As a result, consumption reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Cold-Rolled Steel Products Production in Eastern Europe

In value terms, cold-rolled steel products production shrank to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when the production volume increased by 40% against the previous year. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X, and then dropped in the following year.

Cold-Rolled Steel Products Exports

Exports in Eastern Europe

In 2022, the amount of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled) exported in Eastern Europe reduced to X tons, which is down by -13.5% on the year before. In general, exports continue to indicate a perceptible shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 12% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, cold-rolled steel products exports reduced to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, exports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 79% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X, and then contracted in the following year.

Exports by Country

Russia was the main exporter of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled) in Eastern Europe, with the volume of exports amounting to X tons, which was approx. 36% of total exports in 2022. Slovakia (X tons) held a 15% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by Bulgaria (13%), Poland (8.7%), Ukraine (8.6%), Romania (7.6%), Hungary (5.8%) and the Czech Republic (4.9%).

Exports from Russia decreased at an average annual rate of -5.9% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Bulgaria (+37.4%), Poland (+5.1%), the Czech Republic (+3.1%) and Romania (+2.7%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Bulgaria emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in Eastern Europe, with a CAGR of +37.4% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Slovakia (-3.1%), Hungary (-5.4%) and Ukraine (-12.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2022, the share of Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic increased by +12, +5.1, +3.6 and +2.5 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest cold-rolled steel products supplying countries in Eastern Europe were Russia ($X), Poland ($X) and Romania ($X), with a combined 54% share of total exports. Slovakia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Ukraine lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 44%.

Bulgaria, with a CAGR of +39.6%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Eastern Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, growing by 4.2% against the previous year. In general, the export price posted a noticeable expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 an increase of 68%. Over the period under review, the export prices reached the maximum in 2022 and is likely to continue growth in the near future.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Romania ($X per ton), while Russia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+7.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Cold-Rolled Steel Products Imports

Imports in Eastern Europe

In 2022, imports of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled) in Eastern Europe contracted dramatically to X tons, reducing by -19.1% on the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when imports increased by 18%. As a result, imports attained the peak of X tons, and then reduced sharply in the following year.

In value terms, cold-rolled steel products imports stood at $X in 2022. In general, imports, however, posted a strong expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 70% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Poland (X tons), distantly followed by Russia (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons), Hungary (X tons), Slovakia (X tons), Belarus (X tons) and Romania (X tons) were the main importers of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled), together making up 92% of total imports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the leading importing countries, was attained by Russia (with a CAGR of +5.6%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest cold-rolled steel products importing markets in Eastern Europe were Poland ($X), the Czech Republic ($X) and Russia ($X), with a combined 68% share of total imports.

Among the main importing countries, Poland, with a CAGR of +8.1%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Eastern Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, increasing by 24% against the previous year. Import price indicated a pronounced increase from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +3.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, cold-rolled steel products import price increased by +79.0% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 an increase of 45%. The level of import peaked in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was the Czech Republic ($X per ton), while Russia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania (+6.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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