Germany increased steel production by 7.5% y/y in March

In March 2026, German steelmakers increased steel production by 7.5% year-on-year – to 3.34 million tons. Compared to the previous month, the figure rose by 18.1%. This is according to data from the German Steel Association (WV Stahl).

Last month, 2.21 million tons of steel were produced in basic oxygen furnaces (+7.2% y/y; +12% m/m), and 1.14 million tons in electric arc furnaces (+8% y/y; +31.9% m/m).

Pig iron production in March rose by 6.7% year-on-year and 11.8% month-on-month, to 2.02 million tons. Hot-rolled steel production increased by 3.5% year-on-year and 12.5% month-on-month, to 2.88 million tons.

In the first quarter of this year, steel output in Germany amounted to 9.26 million tons (+9% year-on-year). 6.39 million tons of steel were produced in blast furnaces (+11.1% year-on-year), and 2.87 million tons in electric arc furnaces (+4.6% year-on-year). Pig iron production reached 5.87 million tons (+10.4% year-on-year), and rolled steel production reached 8.01 million tons (+4.9% year-on-year).

However, WV Stahl cautions that the improvement in statistics does not indicate a sustained recovery. The association’s CEO, Kerstin Maria Rippel, noted that even at the current pace, annual production will amount to about 37 million tons, which is below 40 million tons—the minimum level required for healthy capacity utilization in the industry.

According to her, demand for steel in Germany has fallen by approximately 30%, or 12 million tons, since 2017, and the recent stabilization of the market is largely due to inventory restocking rather than a genuine revival in consumption.

Imports are creating additional pressure amid global excess capacity. The industry also emphasizes the need to develop the market for low-carbon steel “Made in EU” and competitive electricity prices.

As a reminder, by the end of 2025, Germany reduced steel production by 8.6% compared to 2024—to 34.09 million tons. Last year, 23.64 million tons of steel were produced in basic oxygen furnaces (-10.7% y-o-y), and 10.44 million tons in electric arc furnaces (-3.5% y-o-y). Pig iron production over the 12-month period fell by 10.1% year-on-year, to 21.87 million tons. Rolled steel production decreased by 5.5% year-on-year, to 29.76 million tons.