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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.
First quarter 2023 report. Data up to, and including, third quarter 2022
Brussels, 02 February 2023 – All downside factors that have materialised in the first half of last year have persisted, continuing to impact the European steel market. Apparent steel consumption is forecast to see a deeper-than-expected drop of -4.6% for 2022 (previously set at -3.5%). The outlook for 2023 also remains negative (-1.6%), paving the way for the fourth steel demand recession in five years. A modest recovery will be in sight in 2024 (+1.6%), though subject to high uncertainty. Despite a more general resilience of the EU economy, in the third quarter of 2022 apparent steel consumption reached its lowest level after the pandemic.
Fourth quarter 2022 report. Data up to, and including, second quarter 2022