EU: Market for Hot-Rolled Steel Bars and Rods 2025

Market Size for Hot-Rolled Steel Bars and Rods in the EU

In 2021, the EU market for hot-rolled steel bars and rods increased by 8.1% to $X for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year declining trend. Over the period under review, consumption saw a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, the market reached the maximum level at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Production of Hot-Rolled Steel Bars and Rods in the EU

In value terms, hot-rolled steel bar and rod production dropped slightly to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. In general, production recorded a pronounced curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the production volume increased by 15% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production reached the maximum level at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, production failed to regain momentum.

Exports of Hot-Rolled Steel Bars and Rods

Exports in the EU

In 2021, after two years of decline, there was significant growth in overseas shipments of hot-rolled steel bars and rods, when their volume increased by 18% to X tons. Over the period under review, exports, however, showed a mild decrease. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum at X tons in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, hot-rolled steel bar and rod exports soared to $X in 2021. Overall, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, the exports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

Italy (X tons) and Germany (X tons) represented roughly 38% of total exports in 2021. It was distantly followed by Spain (X tons), France (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons), Poland (X tons), Belgium (X tons) and Portugal (X tons), together achieving a 44% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the key exporting countries, was attained by Italy (with a CAGR of +3.7%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the exports figures.

In value terms, the largest hot-rolled steel bar and rod supplying countries in the European Union were Germany ($X), Italy ($X) and Spain ($X), together accounting for 50% of total exports.

Italy, with a CAGR of +5.7%, recorded 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 the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2021, surging by 45% against the previous year. Over the last nine years, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.6%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, major exporting countries recorded the following prices: in France ($X per ton) and Germany ($X per ton), while Portugal ($X per ton) and the Czech Republic ($X per ton) were amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+2.8%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports of Hot-Rolled Steel Bars and Rods

Imports in the EU

After two years of decline, supplies from abroad of hot-rolled steel bars and rods increased by 24% to X tons in 2021. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.4% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, hot-rolled steel bar and rod imports surged to $X in 2021. Total imports indicated a notable increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +3.8% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

In 2021, Germany (X tons), distantly followed by Italy (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Poland (X tons), France (X tons), Romania (X tons), Belgium (X tons), Austria (X tons) and Spain (X tons) were the key importers of hot-rolled steel bars and rods, together mixing up 71% of total imports. The following importers - the Czech Republic (X tons), Slovakia (X tons), Sweden (X tons) and Hungary (X tons) - together made up 13% of total imports.

Germany experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of imports of hot-rolled steel bars and rods. At the same time, Poland (+12.1%), Romania (+10.5%), Hungary (+8.6%), Austria (+7.3%), Belgium (+6.9%), Slovakia (+5.4%), Spain (+5.2%), Italy (+2.6%), Sweden (+1.4%) and France (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Poland emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +12.1% from 2012-2021. The Netherlands experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, the Czech Republic (-1.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Poland (+4 p.p.), Romania (+3.2 p.p.) and Belgium (+1.6 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of the Czech Republic (-2.4 p.p.), the Netherlands (-3.4 p.p.) and Germany (-6 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest hot-rolled steel bar and rod importing markets in the European Union were Germany ($X), Italy ($X) and France ($X), together comprising 36% of total imports. These countries were followed by Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden and Hungary, which together accounted for a further 49%.

Among the main importing countries, Poland, with a CAGR of +11.8%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to 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

In 2021, the import price in the European Union amounted to $X per ton, jumping by 41% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, import price attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Italy ($X per ton), while the Netherlands ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Czech Republic (+2.8%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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