Publications » Position papers » Creating markets for low CO2 materials: Sector coupling via lifecycle CO2-credits for the use of low-CO2 steel as 'eco-innovations' in the automotive industry
Creating markets for low CO2 materials: Sector coupling via lifecycle CO2-credits for the use of low-CO2 steel as 'eco-innovations' in the automotive industry
Downloads and links
Recent updates
The European Green Deal emphasizes the will of the European Union to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050. Important decisions have to be taken very soon for the phase until 2030 for the deployment of the first low-carbon breakthrough technologies on industrial scale, especially in energy-intensive sectors.
The steel industry as well as other basic materials industries need to go through a major transformation process to meet the EU climate objectives. Fulfilling the targets is challenging but technically possible, e.g. via hydrogen-based steelmaking, carbon capture and utilisation/storage, process integration, and utilisation of steel recycling within the limits of scrap availability.
However, despite the high CO2 reduction potential, companies still face huge barriers in terms of commercialisation. Estimations show that the production costs of low-carbon breakthrough technologies will increase significantly under the current political framework, making it impossible for domestic companies to compete on the world market against companies which do not have to undergo climate-related transformational processes.
Download this publication or visit associated links
Brussels, 16 May 2024 – The initiation of a new anti-dumping investigation on imports of tinplated steel products from China announced today by the European Commission is an important step towards restoring a level playing field for the EU producers, says the European Steel Association welcoming the opening of the procedure.
Brussels, 07 May 2024 – The European Commission has today published two Regulations extending the anti-dumping and countervailing measures in force on imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products (SSCR) originating in Indonesia to imports of SSCR from Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam. EUROFER welcomes the extension of the duties and the introduction of import requirements connected to strict monitoring of imports.
The outlook for the European steel market in 2024 continues to lose momentum amidst persisting challenging conditions. Downside factors such as worsening geopolitical tensions, coupled with growing economic uncertainty, energy prices, inflation, interest rates have further impacted demand prospects. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, these challenges have exacerbated the negative effects on apparent steel consumption, resulting in a more severe downturn in 2023 than previously projected (-9%, instead of -6.3%) and weaker growth in 2024 (+3.2%, instead of +5.6%). Output in steel-using sectors, despite showing more resilience than expected in the past year (+1.1%), is now set to decline (-1%). Imports are once again on the rise (+11% in the last quarter of 2023), capturing a staggering 27% market share throughout 2023.