The forces of four companies produced 65,000 tons of polymer-coated steel
In 2023, Ukrainian coated steel producers increased production of painted coils by 60% compared to 2022, to 65 thousand tons. This is stated in a study by Metipol.
Last year, Módulo Ukraine produced 19.3 thousand tons of products (+33% per year), Heavy Metal – 25.1 thousand tons (+53% per year), Polysteel – 6.2 thousand tons (a new company ), ROM – 14.6 thousand tons (+14.6% per year). At the same time, in 2021, the production of relevant products was 61 thousand tons.
«In 2023, the production of coated steel coils by four companies surpassed pre-war 2021 figures. A new production line is scheduled to be launched in 2024, and another, smaller, painting line is in the process of being commissioned. project", says the company.
In total, these companies sold 59.4 thousand tons of polymer-coated steel to the domestic market in the year, occupying 21.4% of the domestic market. Heavy Metal shipped the most products – 21.6 thousand tons (7.8% of the market).
«This is the highest value in the entire analysis period for the Ukrainian market, which will grow throughout 2024 as all companies increase production and their share», adds Metipol.
In 2023, only 6 thousand tons of painted coils were shipped for export, compared to 11 thousand tons in 2022 and 20 thousand tons in 2021. At the same time, last year, exporters additionally re-exported about 2.5 thousand tons of painted coils imported. .
«During the two years of war, there was a significant decline in Ukrainian steel exports. The main reason is the same as the problems with imports of raw materials – uncompetitive logistics in wartime. The border blockade by Poland and Slovakia and the high cost of production at this time also had a strong impact on the decrease in exports to Europe», comments the company.
Imports of polymer-coated metal in 2023 totaled 220.39 thousand tons, an increase of 72% compared to 2022. European suppliers accounted for 96 thousand tons (+67% per year). China was responsible for another 95.94 thousand tons (+87% per year).
“China’s supplies could have been even higher if not for the introduction of anti-dumping duties in September 2023. For the Ukrainian market, this is a sign that a 100 thousand ton segment is opening up to substitution of imports and attracting alternative suppliers of painted metal», says the study.
Overall, the apparent consumption of painted steel in Ukraine in 2023 was 277 kt, an increase of 82% compared to the previous year. The value is at the level of 2016, when consumption of relevant products was less than 300 thousand tons. In the peak year of 2021, 362 thousand tons of painted steel were sold.
Domestic producers represented 21.4% of the market (19.6% in 2022 and 13.2% in 2021), while imported producers represented 78.6%.
As the GMK Center previously reported, Ukraine is rapidly approaching the status of a net importer of flat ton products. Last year, the domestic market imported 0.9 million tons of flat products and exported 1.2 million tons. In monetary terms, Ukraine is already a net importer: exports in 2023 amounted to 782.3 million dollars, while imports amounted to 1.03 billion dollars.
