The net export volume of stainless steel pipe in March increased 244.3% month on month

According to the customs data statistics: in March 2023, domestic stainless steel plate imports of about 123,300 tons (hit a new low since April 2020), a month-on-month reduction of 34.1%; The year-on-year decrease was 48.6 percent. From January to March in 2023, the cumulative volume was about 461,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 483,900 tons, or 51.22%.

In March 2023, the domestic export volume of stainless steel plate was about 349,400 tons, an increase of 38.15% from the previous month; The year-on-year decrease was 7.99 percent. From January to March in 2023, the cumulative volume of stainless steel roll is about 967,200 tons, a year-on-year reduction of 94,900 tons, a reduction of 8.94%.

In March 2023, the net export of domestic stainless steel coil was about 226,100 tons, with a month-on-month increase of 244.3% and a year-on-year increase of 61.7%. From January to March in 2023, the cumulative net export of stainless steel pipe is about 506,300 tons, an increase of 389,000 tons, an increase of 331.7%.

The export increase was mainly reflected in the cold-rolled coil with width ≥600mm, which increased 54,900 tons from the previous month, with an increase of 49.1%. In addition to the volume of hot rolled coil slightly decreased 0.7 million tons, other varieties of exports are increasing.

The main reasons are as follows: First, from January to March, the price of 316L stainless steel pipe continues to decline, and the price difference between inside and outside is large; In March 2023, the export volume of the top ten regions in the Chinese mainland was about 234,800 tons, accounting for about 67.2%. From January to March, the cumulative volume was about 656,600 tons, accounting for about 67.89%.

In March, exports of 304L stainless steel to many places increased. Among them, exports to Korea and India gradually recovered after dropping in February, and exports to Vietnam increased for two consecutive months. Among them, South Korea became the largest exporter of stainless steel, with 135,800 tons exported to South Korea from January to March, an increase of 62% year-on-year.

Second, the import of 304 stainless steel hit a three-year low in March, mainly from Indonesia import significantly reduced. According to customs data, in March domestic 316 stainless steel imports from Indonesia 90,500 tons, a month-on-month reduction of 39.62%, a year-on-year reduction of 53.44%. Among them, wide-width cold rolled and semi-finished products (most of them are billets) have the most obvious reduction. Indonesia Delong Steel was overhauled in mid-January and resumed production in late March, leading to a continuous decline in domestic semi-finished product imports. Imports of semi-manufactured goods will gradually recover in April as production resumes.