Bulk scrap imports to Bangladesh during CY17 exceeded 1 MnT mark.
Bangladesh is emerging at the rapid pace in terms of steel industry. As per port data for bulk vessels, Bangladesh has witnessed 44% Y-o-Y increase in Bulk scrap imports in 2017 as against Bulk scrap imports in 2016. The country imported 1,037,094 MT ferrous scrap in 2017 against 722,300 MT in 2016.Bangladesh has estimated annual crude capacity of 3-4 MnT which is likely to increase further with rising steel capacities in CY18.
In 2017, Bangladesh recorded highest bulk scrap import in Nov’17. The bulk scrap imports totaled at 177,950 MT with seven bulk scrap vessels arrived at berth in Nov’’17 while in December month five bulk vessels carrying 147,090 MT scrap arrived at Chittagong port in Bangladesh. Thus the country witnessed 21% M-o-M fall in Bulk scrap imports which could be attributed to sharp hike in scrap import prices and lowered construction activities in Nov-Dec’17.
Surprisingly, in CY16 the scrap volumes imported in bulk vessels were more than seven folds higher than bulk scrap imports in CY15. In CY16, Bangladesh imported 1707,686 MT ferrous scrap out of which 654,090 MT (38%) were imported in Bulk and 1053,596 MT (62%) through containers respectively.
USA remained the largest supplier of ferrous scrap to Bangladesh – In CY17, bulk ferrous scrap imports from USA surged almost three folds to Bangladesh while Japan exported more than four folds bulk ferrous scrap against the same in CY16. USA remained largest scrap supplier in bulk shipments with occupying nearly half share (51%) followed by Japan with 25% share in Bangladesh bulk scrap imports.
Country-wise Bangladesh Bulk ferrous scrap imports –
| Country | 2017 | 2016 | % Change |
| USA | 533,990 | 176,900 | +201.86% |
| Japan | 255,894 | 62,900 | +306.83% |
| Netherland | 81,200 | _ | _ |
| Australia | 62,080 | _ | _ |
| UK | 29,550 | 75,950 | -61.09% |
| Others | 74,380 | 406,550 | -81.70% |
| Total | 1,037,094 | 722,300 | +43.58% |
Quantity in MT,
Source: SteelMint Stats & Customs Data
Due to heavy congestion at port and the limited supply of bulk scrap cargoes during winters, the bulk scrap imports were expected to fall in Dec’17 and Jan’18.
Bangladesh works with 2-3 major steel mills along with several emerging small-scale steel producers. During first three quarters in CY17, BSRM remained the largest ferrous scrap importer with share of around 68% in Bangladesh’s bulk scrap imports. BSRM has three scrap importing units as BSRM Steel Mills Ltd., BSRM Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. and Bangladesh Steel Rerolling Mill Ltd. While Abul Khair Steel Melting Ltd remained second largest bulk scrap importer in this year.
In Dec’17, Bangladesh also imported 467,100 MT of Coal, 48,850 MT of HBI and 91,013 MT Steel Coil in Bulk vessels respectively.
Commodity wise Bangladesh Bulk import vessels –
| Commodity | 2017 | 2016 | Y-O-Y % Change | Dec’17 | Nov’17 | M-o-M % Change |
| Scrap | 1,037,094 | 722,300 | +43.58% | 147,090 | 177,950 | -17.34% |
| Coal | 2,428,710 | 2,091,600 | +16.12% | 467,100 | 531,260 | -12.08% |
| HBI | 205,310 | 398,550 | -48.49% | 48,850 | NIL | _ |
| Steel Coil | 865,183 | 915,270 | -5.47% | 91,013 | 59,910 | +51.92% |
| Steel Billet | 125,700 | 927,030 | -86.44% | NIL | NIL | _ |
| Pig Iron | 47,250 | 125,150 | -62.25% | NIL | NIL | _ |
Quantity in MT,
Source: SteelMint Stats & Customs Data
Leave a Reply