French steel exports rise strongly

French steel exports skyrocketed in July after having lowered in May and June, Kallanish learns from new data released by national steel association Fédération Française de l’Acier (FFA).

French exports of flat and long steel to countries outside the EU28 were up 38.6% year-on-year in July at 194,000 tonnes. Flats’ exports increased by 44% to 167,000t compared to 116,000t in July 2018. Longs’ exports also increased by 12.5% to 27,000t, compared to 24,000t in July 2018, the association reveals.

Over January-July this year French long and flat product exports to non-EU countries were stable on-year at 150,000 tonnes/month. Flats’ exports increased by 2.4% to 129,000 t/month, from 126,000 t/month in January-July 2018. Longs exports’ fell by -12.5% to 21,000 t/month, from 23,000 t/month over the same period.

Exports of longs and flats had also fallen by -21% on-year in full-year 2018, the FFA says.