The European steel industry is showing early signs of stabilisation, with the resumption of production capacity potentially helping preserve up to 80,000 jobs across the steel value chain.
Europe’s steel industry is showing early signs of renewed confidence. According to the European Steel Association (EUROFER), around 10 million tonnes of crude steelmaking capacity have resumed production in 2026, while European producers have already taken investment decisions worth at least €3.4 billion. A further €2.4 billion is expected by year-end.
These developments were discussed at a meeting between newly elected EUROFER President Geert van Poelvoorde, the association’s Vice-Presidents and Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security. The meeting took place on 12 October 2026, approximately 100 days after the EU’s new steel trade measure entered into force.
New EU trade measures to protect European steelmaking
The EU’s new steel trade measure was introduced on 1 July 2026 in response to mounting global steel overcapacity and its impact on the European market.
In 2025, EU steel imports increased by 14%, while production fell to a historic low of 125.8 million tonnes.
Under the revised Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system, no more than 18.3 million tonnes of steel can enter the EU each year without tariffs. Although the EU remains the world’s largest steel import market, the revised system applies a 50% tariff to imports exceeding the annual threshold, preventing import volumes from rising beyond that level without additional duties.
The measure is intended to protect EU steelmaking capacity and jobs. However, EUROFER cautions that it is still too early to fully assess its impact, even though the initial signals are encouraging.
Resumed production and investment commitments
According to EUROFER, European steelmakers have resumed production across approximately 10 million tonnes of crude steelmaking capacity in 2026. This could help preserve up to 80,000 jobs across Europe’s steel value chain.
European producers have also taken investment decisions worth at least €3.4 billion this year, with a further €2.4 billion expected by the end of 2026.
Despite these developments, the association distinguishes between stabilisation and a sustained recovery, describing the current situation as an early sign of stability rather than a definitive market recovery.
Steel exports and demand remain under pressure
EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2026–2027 shows that EU steel exports declined by 9 million tonnes between 2018 and 2025. The downward trend continued in the first half of 2026, when exports fell by a further 20% compared with the same period a year earlier.
EU steel demand is expected to grow by just 0.1% in 2026.
EUROFER calls for further policy support
EUROFER President Geert van Poelvoorde said the new EU steel trade measure had provided the industry with much-needed breathing space. After years of decline, steelmaking capacity was restarting, investment decisions were being taken and stability was beginning to return. However, he stressed that stabilisation was not recovery.
Van Poelvoorde said the EU had taken an essential first step and called on EU leaders to build on that progress. He also stressed the need to protect the trade measure against any form of circumvention by exporters to the EU.
He further called for the conditions necessary to support the European steel industry’s transformation towards climate neutrality. These include internationally competitive energy prices, fair carbon emission costs for European industry, an effective Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and stronger lead markets for steel made in the EU.
Participants in the meeting
The meeting was also attended by EUROFER Vice-Presidents Mario Arvedi Caldonazzo, CEO of the Arvedi Group; Tim Di Maulo, Member of the Board at Aperam; Lorenzo Riva, CEO of the Riva Group; and Miroslav Kiral’varga, Vice President of Nippon Steel Slovakia. EUROFER Director General Axel Eggert also attended.
