EU long steel tariff-rate quota (TRQ) utilisation for the second quarter as of 22 April shows the heaviest drawdown concentrated in a limited number of origins, particularly Türkiye and China. Most UK-origin quotas remain largely open, Kallanish notes.
Across the four key long product categories – merchant bar, rebar, wire rod, and angles and sections – the largest absolute quotas are held by the UK in wire rod, China in merchant bar, and Türkiye in rebar and angles/sections.
By 22 April, the most pressured quotas were Turkish wire rod (100% used), Chinese merchant bar (90% used), Turkish rebar (75% used), and Egyptian rebar (92% effectively committed on a net basis). By contrast, UK-origin quotas across multiple longs segments remain largely open.
For merchant bar (category 12), China has an allocation of 140,406 tonnes. However, it is also the most actively used major quota, with only 14,570t still available, equivalent to 10% of the original volume. This implies around 90% utilisation. By contrast, the UK retains 97% availability and Türkiye 73%.
In rebar (category 13), Türkiye has a 94,493t quota, of which 23,711t or 25% is left. Among other origins, Egypt is also heavily utilised, with only 2,109t available, or 8%, once awaiting allocations are deducted. Bosnia and Algeria remain effectively unused.
Wire rod (category 16) shows the most aggressive drawdown of all longs categories. Türkiye has fully exhausted its 98,153t allocation, leaving zero balance. The UK has the largest quota at 163,136t, with 90% still available, while Switzerland retains 88%. Among other countries, Egypt is de facto exhausted with just 53t net available, while Malaysia, Bosnia, Korea and Indonesia remain largely untouched.
For angles and sections (category 17), the UK holds the largest country-specific allocation at 27,208t, with 99% still unused. Türkiye shows the highest effective utilisation, with 13,632t remaining from a 22,643t quota, meaning about 40% has already been consumed. Other origins such as the United Arab Emirates, China and Korea show minimal activity.
EU longs TRQ allocation (tonnes) for Q2
Origin, product/category
TRQ volume
Balance
Awaiting
allocation
Avaliable TRQ tonnes
Available
TRQ %
Merchant bars, category 12
China
140,406
16,076
1,506
14,570
10
United Kingdom
117,300
114,710
484
114,226
97
Türkiye
106,082
77,796
541
77,255
73
Switzerland
68,179
64,704
140
64,564
95
Other countries
60,752
53,927
–
53,927
89
Rebars, category 13
Türkiye
94,493
23,711
–
23,711
25
Bosnia and Herzegovina
33,994
33,932
–
33,932
100
Moldova
28,411
27,963
44
27,919
98
United Kingdom to Northern Ireland
2,157
1,822
–
1,822
84
Other countries:
Egypt
27,596
8,109
6,000
2,109
8
Algeria
27,596
27,596
–
27,596
100
Wire rod category 16
United Kingdom
163,136
149,161
2,368
146,793
90
Switzerland
115,202
102,670
954
101,716
88
Türkiye
98,153
0
0
0
0
Moldova
59,078
57,260
43
57,217
97
Other countries:
Malaysia
15,090
15,016
–
15,016
100
Algeria
15,090
12,593
–
12,593
83
Egypt
15,090
1,053
999
53
0
Bosnia and Herzegovina
15,090
15,066
–
15,066
100
Korea
15,090
15,090
–
15,090
100
Japan
15,090
14,358
218
14,139
94
Indonesia
15,090
15,090
–
15,090
100
Serbia
15,090
14,354
247
14,107
93
Angles, sections category 17
United Kingdom
27,208
26,816
–
26,816
99
Türkiye
22,643
13,632
–
13,632
60
Korea
5,277
5,210
–
5,210
99
United Kingdom to Northern Ireland
14,100
13,006
–
13,006
92
Other countries:
China
4,968
4,795
–
4,795
97
Switzerland
4,968
4,968
–
4,968
100
United Arab Emirates
4,968
4,538
–
4,538
91
Source: EU TARIC, as of 22 April. Complied by Kallanish
Author: Elina Virchenko
