News » The resurgence of the pandemic in Europe and across the world is putting further pressure on EU steel.
The resurgence of the pandemic in Europe and across the world is putting further pressure on EU steel.
Recent updates
Apparent steel consumption in the EU fell (-25.5%) year-on-year in the second quarter of 2020, after a drop (-12%) in the first quarter. This was the most severe drop in EU steel consumption ever recorded.
The exceptionally negative trend in steel demand seen in the second quarter of 2020 is – as widely expected – the result of the economic and industrial lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state of EU and global steel means there is an increased urgency to deal with excess steel capacity worldwide, as this overcapacity will undermine the recovery. In October, national and regional associations and members of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity called on G20 leaders to keep working on a multilateral solution to the problem. EUROFER welcomes continued EU leadership on this issue. Additionally, the EU steel safeguard must be adapted and extended to avoid a resurgence in steel demand being matched by an unhindered flood of dumped imports.
The coming months may prove to be doubly challenging: the resurgence of COVID-19 cases is prompting the reimposition of control measures. Ensuring the effectiveness of public health measures whilst minimising the impact on the economy is a fine balancing act but it is essential because further setbacks will have long-run implications for all sectors and their ambitions for the coming years. EU leaders will have to act decisively to ensure that Europe gets back on track once the pandemic has faded.
In the meantime, stay safe.
Strasbourg, 07 October 2025 – The new trade measure presented today by the European Commission is a long-awaited proposal to forcefully defend the European steel sector, in full respect of WTO rules, from unfair imports flooding the EU market due to massive global overcapacity. The provisions unveiled by the Commission respond to the needs of the sector and represent a real lifeline for EU steelmakers and steelworkers. The European Parliament and the Council should therefore adopt it as a matter of urgency to enable its entry into force at the beginning of 2026, says the European Steel Association (EUROFER).
Brussels, 01/10/2025
With Europe’s steel industry at breaking point, industriAll Europe and the European Steel Association (EUROFER) held an emergency steel social summit to demand urgent action. Ahead of the announced Commission proposal addressing the impact of global steel excess capacity on the EU steel market, due by mid-October, the European social partners are united in calling for robust and effective trade measures. They also insist on fast and urgent implementation of the EU Steel and Metals Action Plan, especially concerning energy prices and demand. Maintaining the level of political ambition as promised in the EU Steel and Metals Action Plan is essential to restore steel’s competitiveness and save its green transition as well as steelworkers’ jobs across Europe.
Brussels, 19 September 2025 – Following today’s meeting between Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič and a delegation of European steel CEOs on the global steel crisis and the challenges facing the EU steel industry amid massive decarbonisation investments:
The European Steel Association (EUROFER)
172 Avenue de Cortenbergh
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Email: mail@eurofer.eu
Phone: +32 (0) 2 738 79 20
