Imports remain key amid rising Polish consumption: PUDS

Polish apparent steel consumption rose 19.4% on-year in January-November 2021 to 14.15 million tonnes, with full-year use expected to reach 15.3mt, an annual record. However, consumption in November alone of 1.05mt was the lowest monthly figure since January 2021, points out the Polish Union of Steel Distributors (PUDS).

Imports remain a crucial component to supplying domestic demand, with a 24% surge in the 11 months to 12.46mt, while exports rose 8% to 5.22mt, PUDS chief executive Iwona Dybal said during a meeting on Thursday attended by Kallanish. In the nine months through September, Ukraine-origin imports into Poland soared by 129% on-year, meaning the country overtook Czech Republic as second-largest supplier. The largest supplier to Poland, Germany, increased shipments by 20%.

11-month crude steel output in Poland rose 8% to 7.76mt. Hot rolled flat and long products output grew 10.2% and 9.1% respectively.

Polish distributors’ sales in January-September meanwhile rose 8% on-year, while inventories grew 3.7%.

Finally, distributors’ prices of steel products in Poland are markedly higher now than they were 12 months ago. For example, S235J grade hot rolled coil and DC01 cold rolled coil prices are at PLN 4,577/tonne ($1,165) and PLN 5,730/t respectively this week, up 34% and 39% on-year. BST500 12mm rebar is at PLN 3,947/t, up 29%.

Adam Smith Germany