France’s Rolled Steel Trade Surges in January Amid Recovery in Production

Rolled Steel

Exports rise 16.9% while imports soar 51.8% year-on-year, signaling growing steel demand 

French steelmakers saw a sharp rise in rolled steel exports and imports in January 2025, reflecting a recovery trend in the domestic and international steel trade. According to Eurostat data analyzed by GMK Center, exports of rolled steel products from France to non-EU countries increased by 16.9% year-on-year, reaching 158,210 tons, and marke
d a 24.9% jump month-on-month.

Long and Flat Product Exports See Significant Gains

Exports of long steel products surged by 57.4% y/y and more than doubled month-on-month to 33,280 tons. Meanwhile, flat products rose by 9.4% y/y and 12.2% m/m, totaling 124,930 tons. Among them:

• Hot-rolled flat products (HS-7208): 55,500 tons (+36.7% y/y, +19.8% m/m)
• Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products (HS-7225): 38,650 tons (-5.7% y/y, +6.1% m/m)
• Coated flat products (HS-7210): 20,640 tons (+0.5% y/y, +2.8% m/m)
• Hot-rolled rods and bars in coils (HS-7213): 19,650 tons (+7.7 times y/y, +4.9 times m/m)

Steel Imports from Third Countries Jump by 51.8%

France’s imports of rolled steel from third countries rose 51.8% y/y and more than 2.6 times m/m, reaching 45,650 tons. This increase suggests stronger domestic demand or inventory restocking by consumers.

• Long products: 22,170 tons (+32.4% y/y, +2.6 times m/m)
• Flat products: 23,480 tons (+76.3% y/y, +4 times m/m)

Top imported products included:

• Hot-rolled flat products (HS-7208): 11,680 tons (+13 times y/y, +6.5 times m/m)
• Coated flat products (HS-7210): 6,830 tons (-10.6% y/y, +7.6 times m/m)
• Carbon steel bars, twisted (HS-7214): 6,370 tons (+20.1% y/y, +67.1% m/m)
• Angles and special profiles (HS-7216): 5,680 tons (+45% y/y, +2.7 times m/m)

Steel Production Rebounds After 2023 Slump

The rise in trade aligns with improved domestic output. French steelmakers produced 10.76 million tons in 2024, up 7.6% from 2023, rebounding after a sharp 17.5% decline in 2023. Monthly production averaged 896,250 tons in 2024, compared to 833,000 tons in 2023 and 1.01 million tons in 2022.

This rebound in production and rise in both exports and imports point to a renewed momentum in France’s steel sector, supported by stronger global demand and recovering industrial activity.