The EU has decreased imports of most steel products from Russia, but pig iron and scrap intake increased in January-May, according to Eurostat data.
Overall HS chapter 72 product volumes amounted to 2.57 million tonnes, up by 1.1% year-on-year, Kallanish notes. Revenue generated by these shipments however decreased 14.7% to €1.06 billion ($1.24 billion).
The main share of imports was taken by semi-finished products, accounting for 86% of supply. Semis intake nevertheless decreased 3.3% on-year to 1.49mt and revenue fell 14.6% to €681.9m.
Belgium took 554,630t of semis, down by 9.4% on-year. Italy imported 358,940t, higher by 5.6%, and Czech Republic 294,080t, up by 49%. Denmark took 251,040t, up 2.8% on-year.
Imports of pig iron from Russia to the EU in January-May amounted to 696,990t, up 68.5% y-o-y. Revenue increased by 52% to €254.45m. Italy imported 524,620t, an increase of 3.9%. Latvia took 82,270t, up 17% on-year, and Belgium accepted 31,070t compared with zero in January-May 2024.
There were not many deliveries of Russian-made ferroalloys to the EU market in January-May 2025, just 3,800t versus 39,470t a year earlier.
Supply of direct reduced iron from Russia to the EU amounted to 353,190t, down 33% on-year, at a value of €110.4m, down 38.9%.
EU scrap intake from Russia amounted to 30,550t, up 51%.
Iron ore supply was only 2,040t versus 9,360t in January-May 2024.
European steelmakers association Eurofer has previously voiced concern over the European Commission’s decision to continue to allow Russian slab to enter the EU until 2028 (see Kallanish passim).
As part of the EU’s 12th Russia sanctions package, EU importers will be able to import some 3m t/year of slab from Russia until October 2026. The quota will be reduced to 2.6mt and then 2mt during the following 12-month periods through October 2028.
Russian-origin billet imports into the EU have been prohibited since April 2024. EU pig iron imports from Russia will be banned from 2026 and are subject to quotas in 2024 and 2025. Russia already exhausted its 2025 quota in February.
Ukraine’s Metinvest urged the EU to close all loopholes for imports of Russian semi-finished products as soon as possible (see Kallanish passim). Russian steelmakers have maintained competitive positions in the EU market despite sanctions, especially in the area of slab supply, the firm said.
Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria
