Czech apparent steel consumption dropped to 1.37 million tonnes in the first quarter, down by over 130,000t on-year due to weak demand. This comes amid still high energy prices, the impact of high inflation and the uncertain geopolitical situation, says the Czech and Slovak steel association, Steel Union.
Consumption was however up from a multi-year low of 1.23mt in Q4 2023, Kallanish notes.
Crude steel output in Q1 plummeted by over 300,000t to 642,000t. Finished products output also fell significantly, with only rail and thick plate falling more moderately, and sheet piling increasing.
Steel exports thus dropped by over 200,000t on-year in Q1 to 830,000t, among the lowest totals since 2009, while imports inched up by 34,000t to 1.68mt. Exports did nevertheless rise from 796,000t in Q4 2023.
In February, Steel Union was among a group of Czech energy-intensive sector associations that warned the Czech government should not support the climate goal proposed by the European Commission to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040, as it is unachievable and would hit industry-dependent Czech Republic hard (see Kallanish passim).
Adam Smith Poland
