Eastern Europe: Hot-Rolled Steel Products Market 2025

Hot-Rolled Steel Products Market Size in Eastern Europe

In 2021, the East European hot-rolled steel products market decreased by -1.4% to $X, falling for the third year in a row after two years of growth. Overall, consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Hot-Rolled Steel Products Production in Eastern Europe

In value terms, hot-rolled steel products production declined to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production showed a noticeable decrease. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 with an increase of 35% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production reached the peak level at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, production failed to regain momentum.

Hot-Rolled Steel Products Exports

Exports in Eastern Europe

In 2021, shipments abroad of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than hot-rolled) increased by 28% to X tons, rising for the second year in a row after three years of decline. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. As a result, the exports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, hot-rolled steel products exports skyrocketed to $X in 2021. Overall, exports enjoyed a moderate expansion. As a result, the exports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

Russia (X tons) and Ukraine (X tons) represented the major exporters of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than hot-rolled) in 2021, resulting at approx. 39% and 27% of total exports, respectively. It was distantly followed by Slovakia (X tons), Romania (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons) and Poland (X tons), together mixing up a 28% share of total exports. Hungary (X tons) held a relatively small share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for the Czech Republic (with a CAGR of +3.6%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest hot-rolled steel products supplying countries in Eastern Europe were Russia ($X), Ukraine ($X) and Slovakia ($X), with a combined 73% share of total exports. These countries were followed by Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, which together accounted for a further 24%.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Romania, with a CAGR of +7.3%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the export price in Eastern Europe amounted to $X per ton, with an increase of 65% against the previous year. Export price indicated a moderate expansion from 2012 to 2021: its price increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, the export price reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Poland ($X per ton), while Ukraine ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+3.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Hot-Rolled Steel Products Imports

Imports in Eastern Europe

After two years of decline, supplies from abroad of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than hot-rolled) increased by 28% to X tons in 2021. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.9% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, hot-rolled steel products imports skyrocketed to $X in 2021. In general, imports posted prominent growth. As a result, imports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

Poland represented the key importing country with an import of around X tons, which resulted at 34% of total imports. Russia (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 15% share, followed by the Czech Republic (14%), Hungary (8.5%), Slovakia (6.3%), Bulgaria (5.1%) and Belarus (4.6%). Romania (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to hot-rolled steel products imports into Poland stood at +6.8%. At the same time, Hungary (+14.1%), Slovakia (+7.0%), Bulgaria (+5.6%), the Czech Republic (+1.5%) and Russia (+1.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Hungary emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Eastern Europe, with a CAGR of +14.1% from 2012-2021. Romania experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Belarus (-1.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Poland (+7.5 p.p.) and Hungary (+4.8 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while Romania, Belarus, the Czech Republic and Russia saw its share reduced by -2.1%, -2.9%, -3.3% and -4.2% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Poland ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than hot-rolled) in Eastern Europe, comprising 33% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by the Czech Republic ($X), with a 15% share of total imports. It was followed by Russia, with a 13% share.

In Poland, hot-rolled steel products imports increased at an average annual rate of +8.8% over the period from 2012-2021. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: the Czech Republic (+4.2% per year) and Russia (+1.5% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Eastern Europe stood at $X per ton in 2021, jumping by 53% against the previous year. Import price indicated a slight expansion from 2012 to 2021: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.7% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, import price attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, major importing countries recorded the following prices: in Romania ($X per ton) and the Czech Republic ($X per ton), while Russia ($X per ton) and Bulgaria ($X per ton) were amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Bulgaria (+3.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :