Imports of this raw material to the country decreased by 25% per year in 2023
In 2023, Germany reduced ferrous scrap exports by 3% compared to 2022 – to 7.61 million tons, the lowest volume since the 2009 crisis. This is reported by Kallanish with reference to data from the Federal Service for Country statistics.
The total value of scrap exports in 2023 amounted to 4.1 billion euros (4.9 billion euros in 2022).
The Netherlands has traditionally been the main destination for German supplies of this raw material, but last year scrap exports to this country fell by 6% year-on-year to almost 1.68 million tonnes. Exports to Italy, the second largest buyer, increased by 4% compared to the previous year – to 1.5 million tonnes.
Direct scrap exports from Germany to Turkiye , its most important buyer outside the EU, increased by 4% year-on-year – to 661,600 tonnes. Last year, Germany also increased its supply of raw materials to India by 120% compared to the previous year, to 450.2 thousand tons.
Scrap imports to Germany last year fell by 25% annually – to 3.48 million tons, the lowest annual figure since 2006. In 2023, the Czech Republic supplied 874.3 thousand tons of scrap to the country, which it is 6% more than last year. The second largest supplier was the Netherlands (-24% y/y, 715.2 thousand tons), followed by Poland (-21% y/y, 512.1 thousand tons).
The decline in steel scrap imports is explained by weak demand for raw materials from the German steel industry.
As previously reported by Compraço, European Union scrap exports increased by 7% in 2023 compared to 2022, to 18.53 million tonnes. The average monthly export volume last year was 1.54 million tons compared to 1.45 million tons in 2022. At the same time, the maximum volume of raw materials was shipped in March – 1.72 million tons (-7% per year), and the minimum in May – 1.05 million tons (-18% per year).
