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Economic and market outlook
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The European Steel Association regularly monitors the economic conditions on the steel market, including apparent and real consumption, imports and exports, production levels and the performance of the main steel-using sectors.
The culmination of this ongoing work are the four quarterly Economic and Market Outlook reports, which contain the most recent available data that is publically disseminable. More information about when these are released can be found in the statistics publication calendar.
Annually, EUROFER also produces a European Steel in Figures guide, collating the most recent full yeat's worth of data. That can be found in the downloads and links block below.
The positive trend in steel demand and apparent steel consumption observed in the first three quarters of 2021 persisted in the fourth quarter, although at a slower pace. At the same time, throughout 2021 EU steel imports increased massively by 32%. However, soaring energy prices, ongoing disruptions in global supply chains and the shock due to the war in Ukraine are set to weigh heavily on the outlook for 2022, potentially resulting in the third contraction of steel consumption (-1.9%) over the past four years.
Second quarter 2022 report. Data up to, and including, fourth quarter 2021
Brussels, 04 February 2022 – In the third quarter of 2021 EU apparent steel consumption increased for the fourth consecutive time in a row (+14.3%), albeit easing with 36 million tonnes compared to 40 million tonnes in the second quarter. Recovery is expected to continue but at a moderate rate and subject to considerable uncertainty, including the ongoing energy crisis, until at least mid-2022.