Germany reduced steel output by 3.6% y/y in January-September

In January-September 2023, German steel enterprises reduced steel production by 3.6% compared to the same period in 2022 – to 27.23 million tons. German steel association WV Stahl reported about it.

During this period, steel production in converters increased by 0.1% y/y – to 19.63 million tons, and in electric arc furnaces (EAF) – decreased by 12% y/y, to 7.6 million tons. Pig iron production in Germany in January-September 2023 increased by 0.1% y/y – up to 18.1 million tons. Rolled steel output reached 23.55 million tons (-5% y/y).

In September 2023, steel production by German steelmakers increased by 2.1% compared to September 2022, and by 2.2% compared to August – up to 2.902 million tons, in particular:

• in converters – 2.11 million tons (+6.8% y/y);
• in EAF – 791 thousand tons (-8.6% y/y).

Pig iron production in September reached 1.92 million tons, which is 1.5% more y/y and 2.5% less m/m, and hot-rolled products – 2.36 million tons (-8.9% y/y; -2.9% m/m).

«The volume of steel production in the EDP from January to September fell by 12% compared to the same period last year. This makes it clear how long-term high energy costs affect EAF steel production, which requires sufficient electricity but has relatively low CO₂ emissions,» comments WV Stahl.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Germany is among the ten largest steel producers in the world according to World Steel. In 2022, the country reduced output of steel by 8.4% compared to 2021 – to 36.8 million tons, taking 7th place in the world ranking of producing countries.