The European Union increased its imports of long steel products by 17.2% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 8.43 million metric tons, reflecting a gradual recovery in demand from the construction and engineering sectors.
Among imported products, hot-rolled bars and rods in coils (HS 7213) accounted for the largest share at 2.49 million tons, slightly up 0.6% y/y. Imports of other carbon steel bars and rods (HS 7214) totaled 2.29 million tons, marking a 22.1% increase compared with 2024.
Another category showing strong growth was alloy steel bars and rods and hollow bars for drilling (HS 7228), which rose to 1.19 million tons, up 84.8% year-on-year. Imports of angles, shapes, and special profiles of non-alloy steel (HS 7216) also increased to 755,150 tons, up 11.4% y/y.
Turkey remained the largest supplier, exporting 1.86 million tons of long products to the EU in 2025, representing a 15.6% year-on-year increase. Major shipments included 575,400 tons of carbon steel bars and rods (HS 7214) and 473,900 tons of hot-rolled bars and rods in coils (HS 7213).
Exports from Ukraine surged by 60.1% y/y to 768,400 tons, driven mainly by hot-rolled bars and rods in coils (361,700 tons) and carbon steel bars and rods (252,600 tons).
Among Asian suppliers, China significantly expanded exports to the EU, reaching 1.68 million tons in 2025, up 40.5% year-on-year. India also increased shipments by 28% y/y to 342,100 tons, while Indonesia recorded the fastest growth, with exports jumping more than 13 times to 450,900 tons.
In contrast, Vietnam sharply reduced exports to the EU, with shipments falling 72.2% year-on-year to 131,700 tons.
Despite the growth in imports, industry analysts note that European producers still have sufficient spare capacity to potentially replace part of the imported long products, although high energy costs and competitiveness challenges continue to support demand for foreign supplies.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
