Belarus-based Byelorussian Steel Works (BSW) exported 2.2mn nt (2mn mt) of metal products worth approximately $1.16bn to 65 countries.
The top-five BSW product importers were Russia, Germany, Egypt, Lithuania, Netherlands, and Israel. While the EU and Russia remain BSW’s major markets, the company cultivated its presence among emergent African markets in 2019. Compared to 2018, BSW’s exported 80.8pc more metal products to Africa last year, which amounted to 427,000nt worth approximately $167mn.
The company produced 2.6mn nt of steel, 2.3mn nt of rolled products, 120,000nt of pipes and 336,000nt of wire products in 2019.
Over 50pc of BSW products sold to Africa were destined for Egypt, with Kenya and Uganda importing wire rod from the company for the first time last year. Thirteen other countries continued, and in some cases expanded, their purchasing relationship with BSW by sourcing 427,000nt of wire rod, rebar and casting billets.
Protectionism and falling prices cleaved sales, with export prices declining by an average of $69.4/nt, or 11.4pc, bringing the average price to $539.4/nt from $608.8/nt. The decline was mitigated by raw materials costs declining by 5.5pc during the same period