The main importers of direct recovery iron among the EU countries following the results of the specified period were Italy, Spain and Austria, in particular:
Italy – 683.6 thousand tons (33.1% YoY);
Austria – 276.81 thousand tons (32.4% YoY);
Spain – 205.49 thousand tons (6.4% YoY).
A significant decrease in imports from Germany and the Netherlands had a negative impact on import volumes. In particular, 438.45 thousand tons of DRI were delivered to the German market in January-September 2024, while this year it was only 25.63 thousand tons, and to the Netherlands - 282.32 thousand tons against 115.14 thousand tons for 9 months of 2025. At the same time, the recovery of supplies to Italy and other major consumers limited the deeper decline in the indicator.
Russia is a major supplier of DRI to the European Union. In January-September, Russian enterprises shipped 474.68 thousand tons of direct reduction iron to European consumers, which is 39.9% less than in 2015.The main importers of Russian products are Italy – 266.44 thousand tons (-32% YoY) and Poland – 54.99 thousand tons (-54.2% yoy). Belgium and Spain imported 84 thousand tons of DRI (-47% YoY) and 69.2 thousand tons (-19.2% yoy). accordingly.
Libya shipped 183.95 thousand tons of DRI to the EU in 9 months, reducing the figure by 54% YoY. Venezuela exported 484.88 thousand tons of related products to the European Union (2.1 times YoY). Shipments from Venezuela show significant growth, indicating a reorientation of logistics chains. In 2023, 133 thousand tons of DRI were imported in this direction, and in 2024 - 293.98 thousand tons. The United States sent 297.54 thousand tons of products to the EU (12.5% YoY).
Recall that by the end of 2024, the EU increased imports of direct reduction iron from third countries by 5.4% compared to 2023, to 2.75 million tons. In 2023, there was a decrease of 11.1% yoy. The largest DRI importers among EU member states last year were: Italy – 659.73 thousand tons (-23.7% YoY), the Netherlands – 527.27 thousand tons (423%), Germany – 438.46 thousand tons (-33.5%).
