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German Steel Output Hits 2009 Low as Industry Urges Rapid EU Action

Uncompetitive power prices are cited as the chief brake on competitiveness, hindering decarbonisation.

Overview

  • Germany produced 34.1 million tonnes of crude steel in 2025, down roughly 8.6–9% year over year and the lowest since 2009.
  • Capacity utilization fell below 70%, with output remaining under the 40‑million‑tonne benchmark for a fourth consecutive year.
  • Domestic market supply was about 30 million tonnes in 2025, highlighting exceptionally weak demand in Germany.
  • Roughly one in three tonnes of steel used in the EU now comes from non‑EU sources, increasing competitive pressure on European producers.
  • The steel association labels 2026 the “year of site security,” pushing for a swift EU trade‑protection tool, relief on power costs, and demand incentives for low‑emission steel, while warning that concrete measures from Berlin and Brussels remain slow.