Product intelligence · HS 721931 · 2024 data

Steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more

Global exports of steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more totalled $709,995,724 in 2024, a -4.0% change from the previous year. Traded by 81 countries across 1,238 bilateral corridors, with demand from 164 importing markets. The long-term trend is declining.

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

Global trade

$710.0M

-4.0% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

-9.9%

5Y: -3.4%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.119

Volatility

Low

Score 14/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more trade exhibited slight decline, with global flows reaching $709,995,724 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of -9.9% (five-year: -3.4%). The all-time peak of $970,025,370 was recorded in 2021; the current level is 27% below that high-water mark.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 55% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a mildly upward trajectory with periodic contractions. Trend momentum is decelerating (-9.0% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more as "One-way trade" in the low 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 0.119). The three largest exporters — Belgium ($158.8M), Finland ($128.6M), and China ($83.7M) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at -0.5% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.080). The three largest import markets are Germany ($128.1M), Italy ($108.3M), and Netherlands ($82.1M). The largest importing market sources from 31 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -21.15. Buyers are highly price-sensitive and can switch between suppliers relatively easily.

The dominant trade corridor is Belgium → Germany at $67.9M, representing 53.0% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more 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: $970,025,370 in 2021. Currently 27% below peak.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$650,028,720-16.0%
2016$526,608,834-19.0%
2017$643,533,225+22.2%
2018$768,335,513+19.4%
2019$845,164,417+10.0%
2020$661,985,368-21.7%
2021$970,025,370+46.5%
2022$962,687,889-0.8%
2023$739,447,107-23.2%
2024$709,995,724-4.0%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more in 2024.

View all 81 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more.

View all 164 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1BelgiumGermany$67.9M-1.3%
2FinlandNetherlands$58.8M-10.3%
3FranceItaly$27.8M+5.0%
4BelgiumItaly$26.8M+1.0%
5SwedenItaly$20.0M+18.9%
6NetherlandsItaly$18.1M+0.5%
7ItalyGermany$17.6M+12.8%
8BelgiumPoland$15.7M+0.6%

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

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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.