Russia: Billet exports up 23% y-o-y in Jan-Sept'21 on active ex-China buying

Russia, the world's largest billet exporter, recorded a 23.33% y-o-y growth in its overseas sales of the material in Jan-Sept'21. The export volumes stood at 12.44 million tonnes (mn t) in the period under review compared to 10.08 mn t seen in Jan-Sep'20, as per data maintained with SteelMint.

The key reason for the rise in exports in this period was active ex-Chinese buying.

Mexico, Taiwan leading billet importers

Mexico, outstripping Taiwan, acquired the top position in importing steel billets from Russia at 2.64 mn t in Jan-Sept'21, increasing by a whopping 116% y-o-y as against 1.22 mn t in the corresponding period last year (CPLY).

Taiwan emerged as the second-largest importer of steel billets from Russia in Jan-Sept'21 with 2.26 mn t followed by Belgium and Turkey with 1.99 mn t and 1.49 mn t, respectively.

Export volumes from Russia to Taiwan, however, witnessed a y-o-y fall of 19% while those to Belgium and Turkey were up by 105% and 75%, respectively in the period under review.

Exports up m-o-m in Sept'21

Exports of the material from Russia in Sept'21 stood at 1.46 mn t, a significant increase of 90% as compared to 0.77 mn t in Aug'21.

Mexico was the largest importer of steel billets with 0.35 mn t (down 11%) in Sept'21 followed by Taiwan, Belgium and Turkey. Imports to Taiwan in this month stood at 0.26 mn t while those to Belgium and Turkey were at 0.33 mn t and 0.09 mn t, respectively.

Price trends

SteelMint's export price assessment of Russian billets (130*130mm, 3SP) fell to $597.5/t, FOB Black Sea, towards end-Sept'21 after peaking to $647/t CFR levels in mid-Jul'21.