EU apparent steel consumption is projected to grow by 3% in 2026

According to the latest report, "Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2025-2026 (Q4)," published by the European Steel Association (EUROFER), apparent steel consumption in the EU is expected to begin to recover in 2026, growing by 3%.

The forecast is slightly lower than the association's previous estimate of 3.1%. 23P100 Grain oriented electrical steel, However, the association points out that this recovery is contingent on an improved industrial environment and a de-escalation of global tensions, factors that remain difficult to predict at this stage.

For 2025, the European Steel Association projects a slight decline (-0.2%) in apparent steel consumption in the EU, marking the fourth consecutive year of contraction. This is primarily due to the anticipated impact of US tariffs, but the exact extent of the impact is difficult to quantify due to related uncertainties and trade issues. In the second quarter of 2025, EU steel consumption reached 34.3 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 1.8%. 23P100 Grain oriented electrical steel, In the first quarter of the same year, this figure had increased by 2.2% year-on-year, indicating continued weak demand from major steel-consuming industries and reflecting the generally sluggish manufacturing environment in the EU as a whole.

According to the European Steel Association's forecast, despite some easing of monetary policy, the construction industry will only achieve slight production growth in 2025 (+0.1%, compared to a 2% decline in 2024), dragged down by the slow recovery of the housing market. 23P100 Grain oriented electrical steel, The automotive industry is stagnant due to continued uncertainty and delays in the rollout of electric vehicles. Furthermore, the industry is more vulnerable to the impact of global trade shocks on supply chains. The association predicts that automotive production will decline by 3.8% in 2025, before recovering to 1.4% growth in 2026. Notably, the European Steel Association and industriAll Europe are urging EU institutions to urgently introduce new steel protection measures. These social partners are urging the EU to implement these measures no later than April 2026.