Global Trade of Cold Rolled Coil Through Q3 2016

We are continuing our investigation to quantify the players in the global steel trade of both hot rolled coil (HRC) and cold rolled coil (CRC). In our first report published in February we provided an overview for both products. Later last month we published a report describing the major players in the export and import of HRC. In this third report we have dug deeper into what is the US share of total global CRC imports, and who are the major players around the world. Global trade data is delayed by about two months from what is available for US imports. This is because countries collect their data at different rates and it is necessary to wait until it is all in before trying to perform an accurate analysis. These reports are intended to be a brief overview of a subject that is virtually unknown but which we at SMU believe steel industry executives should have some appreciation of. If any reader would like more specifics of the tonnage that is flowing from country A to county B we can provide it.

Let’s start with a recap of our initial observations. In the first three quarters of 2016 the global total volume of CRC was 30.0 million tons and excluding the inter EU volume was 22.9 million tons. As with HRC both tonnages have been trending up since Q1 2006 but CRC is trending up more slowly. Figure 1 shows the top eight exporters and in this case the US makes the list in 8th place. South Korea is in 2nd place to China with almost half the volume. Exports from Japan have been declining for almost five years. Exports from India have been increasing for over four years.