EU27 Finished steel imports from Non-EU countries fall 44.18% in July

18 September 2026: EU finished steel imports from third countries declined by 44.18% in July year-on-year, to 2.5 million tonnes (Mt), and by 12.14% during the first seven months of the year, to 17.8 Mt as the EU's new tariff rate quota (TRQ) system came into effect on 1 July 2026. The new framework reduced tariff-free import volumes and introduced a 50% out of quota duty, significantly changing the conditions for third country suppliers.

Turkey and China remained the EU's largest suppliers of finished steel on a YTD basis, with Turkey holding the top position at 3.6 Mt during January-July 2026, though this represents a notable decline from 4.2 Mt recorded in the same period of 2025. In July alone, Turkish shipments reached 891.3 kt, down sharply from 1,121 kt in July 2025, reflecting the impact of tighter quota conditions under the revised safeguard framework.

Chinese exports to the EU showed greater resilience on a year-to-date basis. Imports from China reached 2.5 Mt during January-July 2026, modestly above 2.4 Mt in the corresponding period of 2025. July shipments totalled 269.4 kt, sharply down from 532 kt in July 2025.

South Korea ranked third on a YTD basis at 2.0 Mt, easing from 2.3 Mt during January-July 2025. Monthly shipments from Korea totalled 346.4 kt in July, down from 520 kt in July 2025, while overtaking China in monthly volumes.

India delivered 248.9 kt in July, compared with 323 kt a year earlier, bringing cumulative imports to 1.4 Mt against 1.5 Mt during January-July 2025.

Indonesia continued to outperform year-earlier levels on a YTD basis, with cumulative imports reaching 1.2 Mt against 1.0 Mt during the same period of 2025, despite July shipments of 67.7 kt falling well below the 299 kt recorded in July 2025. 

Vietnam and the UK each contributed 0.8 Mt on a YTD basis, with Vietnam declining from 1.2 Mt and the UK from 1.0 Mt a year earlier. 

Taiwan eased to 0.7 Mt from 1.4 Mt, while Malaysia recorded 0.4 Mt against 0.2 Mt, the only supplier among the top ten to show a meaningful year-on-year YTD increase alongside China and Indonesia.