Southeast Europe steel output rebounds in April

Southeast Europe (SEE) crude steel production increased in April, according to the latest worldsteel data monitored by Kallanish. Regional output amounted to 317,861 tonnes, compared to 296,394t in March.

In the first four months of the year, regional production decreased to 1.07 million tonnes from 1.44mt in January-April 2022.

However, worldsteel did not provide data for April steel production in Bosnia or Moldova.

Serbia was again the largest steel producer among the seven countries of SEE, which also include Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, North Macedonia and Moldova.

Serbia’s production of crude steel totalled 515,800t in January-April, down by 12.3%.

Second-largest producer in the region Slovenia saw production in the first four months of the year at 206,213t, down by 5.4%.

However, third-largest steel producer Bulgaria saw its crude steel output up by 2.8% to 198,100t.

Fourth-largest steel producer North Macedonia produced 91,181t, up 13.2% on-year.

Fifth-largest Croatia produced 63,375t, down 7.8%.

HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel restarted blast furnace No.1 in March at its Smederevo works. The enterprise will operate both blast furnaces, but will suspend one BF in summer for maintenance (see Kallanish passim).

Special steelmaker Slovenian Steel Group (SIJ) reported a 35.3% on-year increase in revenue in 2022 to €1.303 billion ($1.44 billion), of which 84.6% was generated by exports. According to the company, even though production volumes were lower compared to 2021, the group was still able to generate higher sales revenue and improve other financial indicators.

The Bulgarian Association of Metallurgical Industries (BAMI) meanwhile warned earlier this year of increased imports into the EU of rebar and light sections of non-alloy and other alloy steels from Egypt and Algeria.

Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria