ASEAN finished steel exports surged in the first half of the year

ASEAN increased its exports of finished steel in the first half of 2021, as sales of long steel and flat steel both achieved double-digit growth.

According to data from the Southeast Asian Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI), ASEAN’s total steel exports in June increased by 20.4% year-on-year to 11.5 million tons, of which shipment volume of long steel amounted to 6.2 million tons (an increase of 15.5%) and shipment volume of flat steel was 5.3 million tons (26.7% increase).

In the first half of the year, ASEAN exported 1.7 million tons of hot rolled coils, showing an increase of 38% year-on-year. "Nearly half of HRC exports are ASEAN's internal trade, followed by exports to Taiwan, China and Italy," said the Southeast Asian Iron and Steel Association.

The export volume of cold rolled coil increased by 24% year-on-year to 1 million tons, but the export volume of coated steel sheets from the region doubled during the reporting period to 1.3 million tons.

Only ASEAN's plate shipment volume in the first half of this year fell 29% year-on-year to 497,142 million tons.