Publications » Position papers » EUROFER request for a continuation of the EU steel safeguard regime after three years of application
EUROFER request for a continuation of the EU steel safeguard regime after three years of application
Downloads and links
Recent updates
If the EU Steel Safeguard measures end in June 2021, the EU steel industry will again be fully exposed to high volumes of cheap deflected steel imports – particularly for as long as the United States Section 232 measures continue.
In short, the US Section 232 measure is a trigger, but the broader problem is persistent global overcapacity and proliferation of steel trade actions worldwide and has worsened because of the Covid-19 crisis.
The EU steel market, with its zero import tariff, is by far the biggest import market in the world (40 million tonnes of imports in 2019 followed by the U.S. with 27 million tonnes).
Download this publication or visit associated links
Brussels, 03 May 2023 – The year 2022 came to a close with a sharper-than-anticipated recession in apparent steel consumption (-7.2%) as steel demand shrank significantly, due to the energy crisis and the impact of the war in Ukraine. Although the worst seems to be over after the fourth quarter of 2022, apparent steel consumption is still projected to be negative (-1%) in 2023, before rebounding in 2024 (+5.4%). However, high uncertainty continues to cast a shadow on the outlook for 2023, which remains bleak. Although steel imports have decreased in tandem with demand, their market share is still historically high (23.4%).
Second quarter 2023 report. Data up to, and including, fourth quarter 2022
Joint industry statement