Product intelligence · HS 720853 · 2024 data

Iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm

Global exports of iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm totalled $1,103,479,399 in 2024, a -11.2% change from the previous year. Traded by 107 countries across 1,606 bilateral corridors, with demand from 189 importing markets. The long-term trend is rapid decline.

Data: OECD BIMTS · Coverage: 19952024 · Updated: 2026-07-17

Global trade

$1.1B

-11.2% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

-12.5%

5Y: +3.2%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.060

Volatility

Low

Score 14/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm trade exhibited significant decline, with global flows reaching $1,103,479,399 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of -12.5% (five-year: +3.2%). The all-time peak of $1,646,146,296 was recorded in 2021; the current level is 33% below that high-water mark.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 48% of years recorded positive growth, indicating significant cyclicality with frequent contractions. Trend momentum is decelerating (-14.1% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm as "One-way trade" in the medium price range price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is diversified (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.060). The three largest exporters — China ($153.9M), Slovakia ($97.6M), and Belgium ($91.8M) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at +27.3% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.040). The three largest import markets are Germany ($147.8M), Czechia ($81.7M), and France ($81.6M). The largest importing market sources from 38 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -13.55. Buyers are highly price-sensitive and can switch between suppliers relatively easily.

The dominant trade corridor is Netherlands → Germany at $36.5M, representing 24.7% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm is 14 out of 100, classified as low. Trade flows are relatively stable compared to other HS6 products, suggesting mature supply chains and predictable demand.

For market entrants, contracting demand signals caution before committing resources. The diversified supply landscape means many competitors but also multiple entry points and buyer relationships to target.

Data confidence is rated "High" based on reporting coverage and consistency across OECD member and partner countries.

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $1,646,146,296 in 2021. Currently 33% below peak.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$724,257,517-23.0%
2016$657,916,414-9.2%
2017$910,713,552+38.4%
2018$1,124,685,746+23.5%
2019$941,190,354-16.3%
2020$800,668,404-14.9%
2021$1,646,146,296+105.6%
2022$1,551,109,852-5.8%
2023$1,243,008,806-19.9%
2024$1,103,479,399-11.2%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm in 2024.

View all 107 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm.

View all 189 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1NetherlandsGermany$36.5M-12.3%
2BelgiumGermany$34.7M-12.3%
3BelgiumFrance$29.9M-17.3%
4RussiaBelarus$28.5M-3.5%
5AustriaGermany$25.8M-16.3%
6CanadaUnited States$25.5M-15.1%
7SlovakiaCzechia$24.2M-26.9%
8PolandCzechia$19.3M-17.9%

Showing top 8 of 10 corridors with available data for 2024.

Go deeper

Get the full intelligence picture

Interactive charts, AI-powered opportunity scoring, competitor benchmarking, and real-time alerts for iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm. Free to start — no credit card required.

Sources, definitions & methodology

Data source

OECD Bilateral International Merchandise Trade Statistics (BIMTS). Aggregated from 312M+ reported trade records across 200+ countries and 5,300+ HS6 product codes. Coverage: 19952024.

Key indicators

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): market concentration, 0 = fully diversified, 1 = single player. CAGR: compound annual growth rate over a stated period. Volatility score: trade value variability, 0–100 scale.

How this page is made

All statistical content on this page is data-driven, composed programmatically from live OECD trade records. No generic AI-generated prose is used. Analytical paragraphs combine real data points with factual interpretation. This page was last refreshed on 2026-07-17.