European Steel in Figures 2019 is the European Steel Association’s (EUROFER) statistical handbook. It shows a sector at the tail end of a period of growth, during which employment had started to recover and demand for steel had risen steadily.

However, it paints a picture of an industry besieged by rising imports, up 12% over the year because of external factors. This will have an impact on future employment figures, but for 2018 as a year there was a rise, returning the sector to the 330,000 direct jobs it had in 2014-2015. Total employment – jobs directly or indirectly, or induced by the sector – now stands at 2.6 million. Total Gross Value Added is €148 billion.

This new European Steel in Figures 2019 guide is also the first to have a trade map, showing imports and exports from the EU in an easy-to-understand way, breaking down previously hard to read figures. Additionally, the sustainability section of the guide has been doubled in size, now including detailed information on slag production by the steel industry and its use by other downstream sectors.

All these statistics help give an overview of the European steel industry today. Awareness of the employment, production, demand and trade challenges that face the sector ensure a greater understanding of our strategically important sector.