Germany News — GMK Center

Salzgitter has secured its first major contract to supply green hydrogen

Masha Malonog — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:02:14 +0000

The German energy company EWE and Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH (a subsidiary of the German steel manufacturer Salzgitter AG) have announced the signing of a long-term agreement for the annual supply of 10,000 tonnes of ‘green’ hydrogen. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2030 via Germany’s main hydrogen network. The contract is for an initial seven-year […]

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Germany is investing €565 million in the transition to a circular economy

Masha Malonog — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:50:36 +0000

The German federal government has adopted a comprehensive action plan to implement the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS), according to SteelOrbis. The document sets out 12 priority measures to be implemented by the end of 2027, aimed at strengthening industry, reducing dependence on primary raw materials and cutting CO₂ emissions by 80 million tonnes by […]

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Worthington Steel has completed the acquisition of Klöeckner

Masha Malonog — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:23:39 +0000

The US-based Worthington Steel has completed its voluntary public takeover bid for Klöeckner & Co S following the fulfilment of all closing conditions. This is stated in a press release from Worthington. The US company has now acquired approximately 62% of Klöeckner’s shares. It is noted that this lays the foundation for a strong strategic […]

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Railway disruptions pose risks for German steelmakers

Masha Malonog — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:50:36 +0000

German steelmakers have warned that prolonged disruptions in rail freight transport threaten the supply of raw materials to companies in the industry. This is stated in a press release from the country’s Steel Industry Association (WV Stahl). “The current situation with the transport of ore and coal by rail is extremely critical for the steel […]

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Worthington Steel has raised $1.4 billion to acquire Klöeckner

Masha Malonog — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:59:42 +0000

The U.S.-based Worthington Steel has raised $1.4 billion in leveraged financing to acquire the German steel company Klöeckner & Co., according to Bloomberg. According to informed sources, Worthington placed $700 million in high-yield bonds and $700 million in leveraged loans as part of deals arranged by Wells Fargo & Co. The initial plan was to […]

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Germany’s steel industry is at a turning point – WV Stahl

Masha Malonog — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:12:43 +0000

Last year, Germany’s steel industry remained under significant pressure due to weak demand from key customers, rising imports, high energy costs, and challenges related to decarbonization. This is according to the annual report published by the German Steel Federation (WV Stahl). As WV Stahl President Gunnar Grebler noted, the German steel sector is at a […]

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Germany is expected to face economic stagnation in Q2 – Bundesbank

Masha Malonog — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:45:37 +0000

In the second quarter, the German economy will remain stagnant due to the consequences of the war in the Middle East. This is the forecast provided by the Bundesbank in its monthly report. According to the report, higher inflation and the associated loss of purchasing power are affecting private consumption and, consequently, service providers. High […]

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Germany increased steel production by 9.5% y/y in April

Masha Malonog — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:30:41 +0000

In April 2026, German steelmakers increased steel production by 9.5% year-on-year, reaching 3.23 million tons. At the same time, production fell by 3.3% compared to the previous month. This is according to data from the German Steel Association (WV Stahl). Oxygen converters produced 2.22 million tons of steel during the month, which is 10.7% more […]

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The European Commission has approved Germany’s €1.3 billion hydrogen initiative

Masha Malonog — Thu, 21 May 2026 09:43:27 +0000

The European Commission (EC) has approved a €1.3 billion German state aid scheme to support renewable hydrogen production. The decision was made in accordance with EU state aid rules and concerns support provided through the European Hydrogen Bank’s “Auctions-as-a-Service” tool for an auction concluding in 2026. This is stated in an EC press release. The […]

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Feralpi Stahl plans to expand production capacity at its plant in Riga

Masha Malonog — Wed, 20 May 2026 12:23:21 +0000

German rebar manufacturer Feralpi Stahl, a subsidiary of the Italian Feralpi Group, plans to expand production capacity at its plant in Riesa. This was reported by Saxony Trade & Invest. The company aims to increase steel production from the current level of approximately 1 million tons to 1.3 million tons per year. This is due […]

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New ETS targets will hit energy-intensive industries – BDG

Masha Malonog — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:14:09 +0000

The new ETS benchmarks presented by the European Commission, which call for a reduction in the benchmarks for free allocation of allowances as early as this year, send a disastrous signal to Europe’s energy-intensive industries. This is stated in a press release from the Federal Association of the German Foundry Industry (BDG). As noted, European […]

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Salzgitter is expanding its steel certifications for military equipment

Masha Malonog — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:08:16 +0000

Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH, a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, has received new certifications for the use of SECURE steels in military equipment. With this, the company has completed a key phase in expanding its portfolio of armored steels for the defense industry. This was announced in a press release. The new approvals confirm that the products […]

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Thyssenkrupp has raised the valuation of its steel division by 25%

Masha Malonog — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:47 +0000

The German conglomerate Thyssenkrupp has raised the valuation of its steel business (Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, TKSE) by a quarter. This came almost immediately after negotiations to sell it to the Indian company Jindal Steel broke down. Reuters reported this. Thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel López noted that significant differences in the valuation of the asset were the […]

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Salzgitter increased steel output by 1.4% y/y in Q1

Masha Malonog — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:31:28 +0000

According to Q1 2026 results, Germany’s Salzgitter AG improved its production performance and increased steel output, laying the groundwork for a recovery in financial results. This is stated in the company’s report. Steel production for the period rose by 1.4% year-on-year to 1.27 million tons. Specifically, the Salzgitter Flachstahl division produced 1.02 million tons (+2.0%), […]

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The EC has approved Salzgitter’s full control over HKM

Masha Malonog — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:13:09 +0000

The European Commission has approved the acquisition of sole control over Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH (HKM) by Salzgitter Mannesmann GmbH (SMG), a member of the Salzgitter Group. The decision was made under the EU Merger Regulation. The deal involves a change in the control structure of HKM, which was previously jointly managed by SMG, thyssenkrupp […]

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Germany will allocate €5 billion for the decarbonization of heavy industry

Masha Malonog — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:09:32 +0000

Germany will allocate €5 billion ($5.8 billion) in financial aid to energy-intensive industries to help them adopt low-carbon technologies. Bloomberg reported this, citing a statement from the German Ministry of Economics. Although the amount available for this year is less than the €6 billion previously allocated, it is crucial to helping Europe’s largest economy reduce […]

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Steel mills in Germany are expected to reduce their scrap consumption by 5% y/y in 2025

Masha Malonog — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:48:59 +0000

German steel mills reduced their scrap consumption by 5% year-over-year last year, down to 15.7 million tons. This is the lowest level since the financial and economic crisis of 2009. This was reported by SteelOrbis, citing data from the German Steel Processing Association (BDSV) and the German Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management […]

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Scrap exports from Germany remained stable in early 2026

Masha Malonog — Tue, 05 May 2026 07:53:07 +0000

Exports of ferrous metal scrap from Germany in January–February 2026 remained at last year’s level, according to Kallanish, citing data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Total shipments amounted to 1.26 million tons, with a value of €568 million ($665 million). Despite overall stability, the structure of exports underwent noticeable changes. In particular, shipments to […]

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Thyssenkrupp and Jindal have called off talks regarding the sale of the steel division

Masha Malonog — Mon, 04 May 2026 07:27:00 +0000

The German industrial group Thyssenkrupp has suspended negotiations with the Indian company Jindal Steel International regarding the potential sale of its steel division, according to Reuters. In recent years, CEO Miguel López has made significant progress in transforming Thyssenkrupp into a holding company. In particular, during his tenure, the company has spun off its hydrogen […]

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The EU has approved new state aid for energy-intensive industries

Masha Malonog — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:36:08 +0000

The European Commission (EC) has approved a new temporary state aid framework in response to the escalating energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Known as the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework, it provides member states with additional tools to support energy-intensive sectors, particularly the steel industry, through the end […]

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

Masha Malonog — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:21:03 +0000

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), […]

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WV Stahl has called on Germany to accelerate government collection of green steel

Masha Malonog — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:26:47 +0000

The German Steel Industry Association (WV Stahl) welcomed the Bundestag’s passage of a bill to accelerate public procurement, but stated that the legislation in its current form would not yield tangible results for the industry or decarbonization. The industry association emphasized that public procurement could become a key tool for supporting the industry’s transition to […]

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German investor sentiment fell sharply in April – ZEW

Masha Malonog — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:29:53 +0000

German investor sentiment fell to its lowest level in more than three years in April, according to a survey by the ZEW Center for Economic Research. The economic sentiment indicator fell to minus 17.2 points this month, the lowest reading since December 2022 (minus 23.3) and significantly worse than the minus 0.5 points recorded in […]

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German industry will face stagnation in 2026 – BDI

Masha Malonog — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:30:37 +0000

German industry will face stagnation at best this year, according to the BDI industry association. This was reported by Reuters. The BDI warned that rising energy costs, supply chain risks, and internal structural weaknesses are putting pressure on the German economy. The association downgraded its forecast following a weak start to the year and amid […]

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WV Stahl welcomes the EU agreement on stricter protection of steel imports

Masha Malonog — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:09:32 +0000

The German Steel Industry Federation (WV Stahl) welcomes the trilateral agreement reached by European institutions on a new, significantly stricter trade defense instrument for steel imports. The industry believes this decision is an important step toward strengthening the EU steel industry amid ongoing pressure from global overcapacity. The new mechanism provides for the introduction of […]

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Germany exported 560,000 tons of scrap in January

Masha Malonog — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:59:31 +0000

In January 2026, Germany reduced its exports of ferrous metal scrap by 1% year-over-year, to 560,000 metric tons. This was reported by Kallanish, citing data from the country’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The value of these exports for the period amounted to €248 million. Scrap import volumes in January of this year fell by 15% […]

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Inflation in Germany accelerated to 2.8% in March

Masha Malonog — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:02:47 +0000

Inflation in Germany accelerated to 2.8% year-on-year in March of this year (up from 2.1% in February). This is according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, remained unchanged from February at 2.5%. Energy prices in the country rose by 7.2% year-on-year in March 2026—the […]

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Salzgitter launches the KLASSE project to recover metals from slag

Masha Malonog — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:36:26 +0000

The German steelmaker Salzgitter AG has announced the launch of the KLASSE joint research project, aimed at recovering valuable metals from electric arc furnace slag. According to a press release, the initiative is intended to enhance circularity in the steel industry, reduce raw material losses, and decrease dependence on imported resources. The project is coordinated […]

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German steelmakers supported the government’s new climate protection program

Masha Malonog — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:23:18 +0000

German steelmakers have endorsed the new Climate Action Program (Klimaschutzprogramm 2026, KSP) adopted by the German government, though they emphasize the importance of properly implementing the proposed measures. This is stated in a press release from the German Steel Industry Association (WV Stahl). As Kerstin Maria Rippel, CEO of WV Stahl, noted, the KSP 2026 […]

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Business sentiment among German companies deteriorated in March

Masha Malonog — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:25:53 +0000

German business sentiment deteriorated sharply in March—the war in Iran has made companies more skeptical about the expected economic recovery in the country. This is according to a report by the Ifo Institute. The Ifo Business Climate Index fell to 86.4 points in March from 88.4 points in February due to more pessimistic expectations. However, […]

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Germany increased steel production by 4.8% y/y in February

Masha Malonog — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:33:18 +0000

In February 2026, German steelmakers increased steel production by 4.8% y/y – to 2.83 million tons. Compared to the previous month, production fell by 8.1%. This is according to data from the German Steel Association (WV Stahl). Last month, 1.97 million tons of steel were produced in basic oxygen furnaces (+7.3% y/y; -10.9% m/m), and […]

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Salzgitter is investing €2 million in capacity for the defense industry

Masha Malonog — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:46:23 +0000

Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH, a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, is investing over €2 million in a new waterjet cutting system at its facility in Ilsenburg. This was announced in a press release. The project is primarily aimed at strengthening the company’s position in the growing defense sector, as well as expanding its capabilities in the production […]

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Germany increased its scrap exports by 5% y/y in 2025

Masha Malonog — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:32:35 +0000

Germany increased its exports of ferrous scrap by 5% year-on-year – to 7.7 million tons in 2025, according to Kallanish, citing data from the country’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The value of these exports last year amounted to €4.54 billion. Scrap imports to the country in 2025 decreased by 9% year-on-year, to 3.98 million tons, […]

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Germany increased steel production by 15% y/y in January

Masha Malonog — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:51:29 +0000

In January 2026, German steel enterprises increased steel production by 15% compared to January 2025, to 3.08 million tons. Compared to the previous month, the figure increased by 8.5%. This is evidenced by data from the German Steel Industry Association WV Stahl. Last month, 2.21 million tons of steel were produced in oxygen converters (+19.3% […]

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Europe must be open to reviewing the carbon market – Merz

Masha Malonog — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:19:06 +0000

The European Union should be open to revising or postponing its carbon market if it does not contribute to the transition of industry to clean production. This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to Bloomberg. The agency notes that this issue is currently at the forefront of the bloc’s agenda, as the European […]

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Salzgitter AG strengthens its position in the defense steel market

Masha Malonog — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:15:13 +0000

German concern Salzgitter AG has announced the acquisition of Thyrolf & Uhle GmbH, strengthening its position in the steel and defense components segment. This is a strategic move towards a growing market that is gaining momentum in Germany and Europe amid geopolitical changes. This is stated in a press release. Thyrolf & Uhle has been […]

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Scrap exports from Germany rose by 4% y/y in January-November

Masha Malonog — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:47:18 +0000

Exports of ferrous scrap from Germany in January-November 2025 increased by 4% year-on-year – to 7.15 million tons. The value of shipments amounted to €3.87 billion, according to data from the federal statistics agency Destatis, Kallanish reports. At the same time, scrap imports for the 11 months fell by 11% year-on-year to 3.71 million tons, […]

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The US should not question the trade agreement with the EU – Merz

Masha Malonog — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:26:43 +0000

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned the Trump administration not to question the trade agreement between the US and the EU, signed in July last year. This was reported by DPA. He called for a final decision in this dispute and said that the groundwork has now been laid for the agreement to take effect if […]

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Germany reduced steel production by 8.6% y/y in 2025

Masha Malonog — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 08:03:27 +0000

In 2025, German steel companies reduced steel production by 8.6% compared to 2024, to 34.09 million tons. This is according to data from the German Steel Industry Association WV Stahl. Last year, 23.64 million tons of steel were produced in oxygen converters (-10.7% year-on-year), and 10.44 million tons in electric arc furnaces (-3.5% year-on-year). Pig […]

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German investment in the US fell by almost half during Trump’s first year in office

Masha Malonog — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:18:55 +0000

German companies cut their investments in the US by about 45% in the first year of Donald Trump’s second term, citing uncertainty in trade. This is according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW) based on data from the Bundesbank. From February to November last year, these investments amounted to around €10.2 billion […]

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The EC has provisionally approved Germany’s plan for new gas energy capacities

Masha Malonog — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:31:04 +0000

The German federal government has announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement with the European Commission on a general system for supporting new gas energy capacities, according to German Policy. According to the country’s Ministry of Economy, a tender for the construction of 12 GW of new capacity will be announced this year, which […]

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US-based Worthington Steel to acquire Klöckner & Co for $2.4 billion

Masha Malonog — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:43:27 +0000

US-based Worthington Steel has announced that it will acquire German steel distributor Klöckner & Co in a deal worth $2.4 billion to strengthen its position in the North American metalworking sector. The deal will be carried out through a voluntary tender offer in Germany and is expected to close in the second half of this […]

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Salzgitter considers scaling back Hüttenwerke-Krupp Mannesmann operations

Masha Malonog — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:32:13 +0000

German steel producer Salzgitter Group plans to reduce the scale of operations at Hüttenwerke-Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) in Duisburg, SteelOrbis reports, citing German media. At the same time, the company intends to maintain production within the revised structure and volumes. Currently, the plant, which produces semi-finished products, has an annual capacity of about 4 million tons. […]

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Germany reduced exports by 0.8% y/y in November

Masha Malonog — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:54:04 +0000

In November 2025, Germany reduced exports by 0.8% year-on-year and by 2.5% compared to October, to €128.1 billion. This is evidenced by data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). At the same time, imports during the period increased by 5.4% year-on-year and 0.8% month-on-month, to €115.1 billion. As Reuters notes, the data highlights both the […]

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German auto industry significantly affected by US tariffs – study

Masha Malonog — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:04:35 +0000

The German automotive industry has become one of the country’s hardest-hit industries due to US tariffs. This is stated in a new expert report by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research. In the first three quarters of 2025, German automotive exports to the United States fell by almost 14% year-on-year. Under an agreement between Washington […]

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