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According to data from the German Steel Processing Association (BDSV) and the German Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management (BVSE), HX420LAD+ZM steel strip ,German steel mills' scrap consumption fell by 5% year-on-year to 15.7 million tonnes in 2025—the lowest level since the 2009 global financial crisis.
Of this total, approximately 3.4 million tonnes of scrap were used in the production of pig iron, steel, and malleable cast iron, marking a year-on-year decline of nearly 8%. HX420LAD+ZM steel strip ,Scrap consumption in the German foundry industry has dropped to a historic low since record-keeping began in 1980.
The decline in scrap consumption aligns with the overall trend of reduced production in the German steel industry. Germany's crude steel output in 2025 stood at 34.1 million tonnes, down 9% year-on-year.
Data shows that in 2025, scrap purchases by German steel mills fell by approximately 670,000 tonnes year-on-year to 12 million tonnes, a decrease of 5%; purchases by foundries dropped by 12% to 2.1 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, German scrap imports declined by 9% year-on-year to 4 million tonnes, while exports rose by 5% to 7.7 million tonnes, resulting in a net export surplus of approximately 3.7 million tonnes. HX420LAD+ZM steel strip ,The BVSE noted that this reflects the "inevitable consequence of weak domestic demand."
However, electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production remained relatively stable, serving as a bright spot in the industry:
Although Germany's total crude steel output fell by 10.7%, EAF steel production—which relies on scrap—declined by only 3.5%;
The share of EAF steel in total production rose to 30.6%;
The overall proportion of scrap in the steelmaking furnace charge increased to 46.2%.
Additionally, in January and February 2026, Germany's exports of ferrous scrap remained largely flat compared to the same period the previous year, totaling 1.26 million tonnes with a value of €568 million (approximately US$665 million).
