Apparent steel consumption in the EU is set to rise by 4.4% y/y in 2025 — EUROFER

The situation in the EU steel industry points to mixed prospects. On the one hand, demand for steel is recovering after three consecutive years of decline. Apparent steel consumption in the EU rose by 4.4% year-on-year – to 134.4 million tonnes in 2025. On the other hand, domestic steel production fell by 2.9% year-on-year – to 125.8 million tonnes, the lowest level in recorded history. This is almost 60 million tonnes below the level prior to the 2008 financial crisis. These figures are cited in a report by the European Steel Association (EUROFER).

According to EUROFER, imports of semi-finished and finished steel products rose by 14% year-on-year, reaching a record share of around 30% of steel consumption in the EU. This has acted as a catalyst for strengthening the protection of the European steel market against imports.

The EU steel industry generates approximately €152 billion in gross value added and supplies materials essential for construction, automotive manufacturing, energy infrastructure, defence and clean technologies.

The report notes that 293,000 people are directly employed in the European steel industry. A further 2.5 million jobs are supported by European value chains.

“Europe needs steel for mobility, construction, energy infrastructure and defence, yet European steel production is under threat. Demand is recovering, but an increasing share of it is being met by imports. The EU must introduce effective trade measures, competitive energy prices and appropriate investment conditions so that the steel needed for Europe’s future is produced in Europe. “The introduction of new steel trade measures by 1 July is the first step towards recovering the 34 million tonnes of steel consumption lost since 2018,” said Axel Eggert, Director General of EUROFER.

The conclusions highlight the importance of implementing the EU Steel and Metals Action Plan to strengthen competitiveness, support industrial decarbonisation and ensure that Europe retains the steel production capacity necessary for its economic security, resilience and green transition.

It is worth recalling that European steelmakers welcomed the European Parliament’s approval of new EU safeguard measures on steel, which will come into force on 1 July. The relevant regulation introduces lower import quotas for steel — duty-free import volumes are limited to 18.3 million tonnes per year (a 47% reduction compared to the 2024 quotas). In addition, a 50% duty (instead of the current 25%) will apply to imports exceeding the quota and to steel products not covered by the quotas.