Significant increase in Pakistan's steel imports

There was a significant increase in imports of steel products in the fiscal year 2024. The rise in the dollar and the decline in local production led to an increase in imports of steel products.

At the same time, data from the State Bank of Pakistan shows a significant increase in imports of finished products and scrap iron in the fiscal year 2024 compared to the fiscal year 2023. According to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan, imports increased from July to May of the fiscal year 2024 and there have been significant changes compared to the fiscal year 2023.

While iron and steel scrap imports were 1.062 billion dollars in the entire 2023 fiscal year, they increased by 46.5% in the period of July 2023 - May 2024 and reached 1.556 billion dollars. In addition, imports of finished iron and steel products increased by 22% between July and May, and imports of finished iron and steel products, which were 1.686 billion dollars in 2023, reached 2.062 billion dollars.

Rising import figures due to the decline in local production capacity reveal strong demand.

According to experts, the steel industry experienced a decline in production of 1.4% in the first half of fiscal year 2024, compared to a decline of 2.1% in the same period last year. Flat and long product production decreased by 1.8% and 0.8% respectively. Moreover, he said that stagnant demand from industries such as automotive, electrical equipment, heavy machinery and agricultural equipment contributed to the decline in flat steel usage in the first half of fiscal year 2024. In addition, the decline in long product production was exacerbated by modest growth in scrap imports as well as a significant increase in imports of finished steel products, it said.