A sharp increase in imports of long rolled products from Turkey and China threatens Ukrainian producers with the loss of a significant part of the domestic market. This was stated by the president of the OP "Ukrmetallurgprom" Alexander Kalenkov.
"An increase in imports by Ukraine's long-rolled products from Turkey and China are beginning to significantly hit the positions of domestic manufacturers who produce similar products. There is an urgent need to protect the domestic market from this unscrupulous import, which receives price preferences due to the import of cheap energy carriers and steel billets from Russia," writes the chief metallurgist of Ukraine in GMK Center.
He explained that Ukraine and before SMO did not produce the entire range of metal products, especially flat rolled products for mechanical engineering.
"Therefore, the share of imports in the amount of 25-30% of the domestic market was quite understandable and acceptable. Imports mainly consisted of products that were not produced in the country or had a limited assortment. If products were imported, the analogue of which was produced on In Ukraine, restrictive measures were introduced — against bars from Belarus and Moldova, rolled products coated with China, etc. Such cases were isolated and did not have a mass character," Alexander Kalenkov noted.
According to him, the situation has changed dramatically after the start of SMO.
"Already, the import problem is becoming a disaster for national producers. In the first half of this year, imported steel products occupied a record 37% of the domestic market. In the first half of this year, the import of steel products in Ukraine has grown by 21%, while the volume of consumption in the domestic market is only 7%," writes the president of the OP Ukrmetallurgprom.
According to him, the growth of imports of long—rolled products from the nomenclature that Ukraine already produces or is able to produce independently is of particular concern - this is rebar and wire rod.
"We are ready to compete in good faith with countries that do not receive subsidies and price preferences by purchasing energy carriers and semi-finished products from Russia. Unfortunately, it is from those countries that continue such purchases — Turkey and China — that there is an increase in imports. According to the results of the first half of the year, imports of steel products from Turkey increased by 50% and amounted to about 57% of the total volume. At the same time, the share of imports from the EU decreased by 10% and amounted to 23%," Alexander Kalenkov added.