Germany’s EMW, SSAB enter partnership for fossil-free steel
SSAB and German steel service centre EMW have entered into a long-term partnership for future deliveries of fossil-free steel, Kallanish learns.
Located in Neunkirchen in the Siegerland of North Rhine Westphalia, EMW is part of the Schäfer Werke group, and is said to be one of the largest steel service centres in Europe.
Among the company’s specialities are a wide range of high-quality automobile grades, high-tensile steels, grades for enamelling and organisation of transport logistics.
It says the new partnership will help to further reduce the carbon footprint of its products, as CO2-reduced steel already plays a central role in EMW’s business strategy.
“We are pleased to support EMW’s sustainability goals in the automotive industry in delivering the tough CO2 reductions that both producers and consumers require,” says Claus Doré, area sales manager Automotive, SSAB Europe.
The agreement marks a new step in the long-standing partnership between EMW and SSAB, the German company notes. It comprises a variety of actions addressing numerous aspects of the development chain, from sales to production to testing and customer experience.
Christian Koehl Germany
SSAB throttles production in Europe
SSAB plans to reduce production in Europe in the second half of the year after a weak performance in the second quarter, while its North American unit performed well in the period.
In its Q2 report, the Swedish group highlights that it lifted key figures over the first quarter. In comparison with the corresponding quarter of 2024, however, it conceded drops in profit, while shipments rose in some areas. Automotive sales nevertheless performed well in Europe.
On revenue of SEK 25,631 million ($2.69 billion) in the reporting quarter – down from SEK 28,282m in Q2 2024 – SSAB’s operating result came to SEK 2,140m, down from SEK 2,969m.
The decrease compared to last year was mainly related to lower prices of standard steel. Compared to Q1 this year, the result improved, primarily driven by increased prices at SSAB Americas.
The market in Europe kept weakening, and, as a consequence, SSAB Europe will adjust production and staffing levels during Q3, which is also typically seasonally slow. During a conference call on Wednesday monitored by Kallanish, company chief executive Johnny Sjöström noted that no blast furnaces will be taken out, and that the cutbacks will be largely in line with necessary maintenance.
Looking at the company’s three main divisions, SSAB Special Steels continued to keep more price stability than standard products over the business cycle. The division reported an operating result of SEK 1,480m – versus SEK 1,659m in Q2 2024 – on a tonnage of 325,000 tonnes, down from 337,000t.
SSAB Americas’ operating result amounted to SEK 807m – versus SEK 1,204m a year earlier – on an increased tonnage of 487,000t versus 439,000t.
SSAB Europe nevertheless lifted its volumes, to 895,000t, up from 870,000t in Q2 2024, helped by record-high shipments of high-strength steel to the automotive industry. SSAB thereby grew its business in contrast to the general trend of shrinking automotive business for European steelmakers, Sjöström said.
Christian Koehl Germany
ArcelorMittal, other EU coil producers increase prices: sources
ArcelorMittal is increasing hot and cold rolled, as well as hot-dipped galvanised coil prices by €30/tonne ($34) across Europe, effective for new contracts covering the remaining third-quarter delivery slots and October shipments, market sources tell Kallanish.
The revised base price for HRC is now set at €590/t delivered, using the German market as a reference point for northern Europe. In southern Europe, asking prices are at €580/t base delivered.
The price adjustment comes amid tightening import restrictions due to the EU safeguard quota system, the expected European Commission safeguard replacement measure, and the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in January 2026.
With Asian supply facing growing uncertainty due to potential CBAM-related costs and extended lead times, buyers are turning to supply from nearby regions. However, some producers in Turkey and North Africa are also raising their offer levels, capitalising on their position as the few remaining viable import options for Europe through the end of the year.
In southern Europe, ArcelorMittal’s price hike is being supported by other regional producers, who are also raising their offers by €20/t. In northern Europe, another major producer is also following and quoting at €590/t, Kallanish notes.
Natalia Capra France
EU amends AD on tinplate from China
The European Commission (EC) has announced that it has amended the definitive antidumping duty orders on imports of flat rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel plated or coated with tin from China imposed on May 27, 2025.
The commission noted that the definitive antidumping duties are now at 13.1 percent for Baosteel Group, 46.7 percent for Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., 24.5 percent for Jiangsu Youfu Sheet Technology Co., Ltd., Hesteel Group Hengshui Strip Processing Co., Ltd., Handan Steel Group Hengshui Cold Rolling Steel Co., Ltd., Handan Jintai Packing Material Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Suxun New Material Co., Ltd., Jiangyin Comat Metal Products Co., Ltd., GDH Zhongyue Tinplate Industrial Co., Ltd. and GDH Zhongyue Tinplate Industry Co., Ltd., and 62.3 percent for other Chinese companies.
Initially, the duties were determined at 46.8 percent for Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., 24.6 percent for Jiangsu Youfu Sheet Technology Co., Ltd., Hesteel Group Hengshui Strip Processing Co., Ltd., Handan Steel Group Hengshui Cold Rolling Steel Co., Ltd., Handan Jintai Packing Material Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Suxun New Material Co., Ltd., Jiangyin Comat Metal Products Co., Ltd., GDH Zhongyue Tinplate Industrial Co., Ltd. and GDH Zhongyue Tinplate Industry Co., Ltd.
The products currently fall under Customs Tariff Statistics Position Numbers 7210701015, 7210708020, 7210708092, 7210908020, 7212402010, 7212408012, 7212408030, 7212408080, and 7212408085.
Romanian longs prices stable, but lower offers exert pressure and intensify competition
Considering the approaching summer vacation period, the long steel market in Romania has remained quiet, with weak demand persisting over the past week. As the market outlook remains largely unchanged, offers in both the rebar and wire rod segments have mostly held steady. However, sources report that lower-priced offers have begun to surface, particularly for large volumes of imports scheduled for the third quarter, which are now starting to weigh on domestic pricing as competition intensifies. Meanwhile, the import market is similarly quiet, with no new deals reported. Market players expect activity to pick up at the beginning of September.
“Demand was good at the beginning of this month, but it has slowed down in the past few days. I believe the large volumes imported for Q3 are finally starting to exert pressure on prices as competition becomes tougher,” a trader told SteelOrbis
As a result, the sole local producer’s rebar price has remained unchanged week on week at €585-590/mt ex-works. Retail rebar prices in Romania are also unchanged, at €580-595/mt ex-warehouse. However, some traders who had previously imported at lower prices are now offering material below the current workable levels, at around €570-575/mt ex-warehouse.
In the wire rod segment, a similar trend has been observed, with most traders maintaining their offers at stable levels of €580-590/mt ex-warehouse.
Meanwhile, in the import market, most offers have remained stable, with no fresh deals reported. According to sources, rebar offers from Bulgaria remain unchanged from last week at €605-615/mt CPT. Similarly, offers from Greece have held steady, with rebar quoted at €585-590/mt CFR and wire rod at €580-585/mt CFR. On the other hand, suppliers outside the EU have also shown similar price stability, both for August-September shipments. Egypt has decided to keep its offers unchanged, with rebar quoted at €485-490/mt CFR and wire rod at €500-505/mt CFR. Likewise, Turkish rebar offers have remained stable over the past week at €475-490/mt CFR, based on an exchange rate of €1 = $1.18 and estimated freight costs of €15-20/mt.
European HRC prices lifted by ArcelorMittal, CBAM optimism
European hot rolled coil (HRC) prices have seen an upward push this week, led by ArcelorMittal, which raised its domestic offers across the EU by approximately €30/mt compared to last month. While other European mills have attempted to follow suit, most of their increases have been more modest, up by around €10/mt since last week. At the same time, European producers are increasingly counting on the anticipated impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), along with the potential introduction of new trade measures to succeed the current safeguard system.
Specifically, in the local EU market, ArcelorMittal announced its new target for HRC at €590/mt delivered in the north and at €580/mt delivered in the south, mainly for September-October deliveries, up €30/mt from the previous official levels announced last month.
Meanwhile, most local HRC prices from mills in northern Europe, for September and October deliveries, have been estimated at €5600-580/mt ex-works, up by €10-20/mt week on week, while the tradable price level has settled at €540-550/mt ex-works levels, up by €10/mt week on week. “Mills are placing excessive reliance on protectionist measures, while real consumption levels do not support any price increases at this stage. But, whether higher offers will actually translate into deals remains uncertain,” a market insider told SteelOrbis.
“Most major suppliers have already closed their order books for September delivery, with some mills now attempting to introduce modest price increases for material scheduled for October delivery,” a representative of one mill said.
Meanwhile, in Italy, indicative offers from mills have settled at €540-550/mt ex-works, mainly for September delivery, up by €10/mt over the past week, while workable prices have settled at €525-530/mt ex-works, versus €510-525/mt ex-works last week.
In the meantime, most offers for import HRC in southern Europe have remained stable at €450-500/mt CFR, depending on the supplier. In particular, offers from Indonesia have been estimated at €450-460/mt CFR levels. Besides, offers for ex-India HRC have been voiced at $580-585/mt CFR, which translates to around €493-497/mt CFR.
Meanwhile, offers for ex-Turkey HRC have varied depending on the source, with most offers quoted at €480-500/mt CFR, duty included, the same as last week.
$1 = €0.85
GravitHy advances Fos-sur-Mer DRI/HBI project
GravitHy has signed a land concession agreement with the Port of Marseille for a plot within the industrial-port zone in Fos-sur-Mer, southern France. This is a major step towards the development of the company’s green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron and hot-briquetted iron plant, which is targeted to commence operations in 2029.
According to the Port of Marseille, the project is set to play a key role in decarbonising the steel industry, with the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%.
“This partnership is fully aligned with our decarbonisation strategy and the conservation plan for the port’s natural heritage,” president of the port Marseille-Fos Hervé Martel says in a note obtained by Kallanish.
“In Fos-sur-Mer, we are building far more than just a plant: we are laying the foundations for a new steel industry – decarbonised, resilient, and sovereign. GravitHy is working hand in hand with the region to make the energy transition an industrial reality,” notes GravitHy president José Noldin.
In March, GravitHy finalised a funding round totalling €60 million ($69m). The capital will facilitate contract acquisition, engineering completion, and permit procurement. The firm is in discussions with prospective investors to advance towards the construction and commercial stages. It expects to reach a final investment decision by 2026.
The €2.2 billion facility is projected to produce up to 2 million tonnes/year of DRI and HBI, fed with hydrogen produced by a 750 MW electrolyser. Investors include Japan Hydrogen Fund, Marcegaglia, Rio Tinto, and Siemens Financial Services.
Natalia Capra France
Northwest European coil buyers express scepticism over hike
Northwestern Europe coil market players would welcome a rebound in prices, but most are sceptical whether ArcelorMittal’s latest hike announcement will herald a market upturn.
The company is now asking for €590/tonne ($694) delivered for hot rolled coil, which it communicated to the market earlier this week (see Kallanish passim). According to a German service centre manager, the company’s previous basic offer stood at €560/t delivered, which he says could remain valid if the hike cannot be consolidated.
He points at quite a big pricing gap between mills, with some quoting at well below €550/t ex-works, while others have preferred to reduce output during summer, rather than contribute to the price deterioration. One other mill source with mostly long-term contracts confirms that “we have little interest [in the spot market] at these low levels”.
On the general sentiment of the market, most buyers state they do not see a recovery in demand, although they are hoping for it, and they believe mills are spreading unjustified wishful thinking. In the words of one Scandinavian wholesaler, “I do hear the word of rebounding demand and prices after the holiday, but nobody is saying why that should be.”
A Swiss-based trader concurs, stating that “consumer demand is really bad. And no light is in sight.” A Dutch buyer does not see a silver lining, either, given “still decreasing demand, although the mills have already limited their production.”
Mills have some reasons to be gently optimistic. An ArcelorMittal source points at lower interest rates that will help construction activity, and EU safeguards against imports that will be “drastic” and efficient. “The positives will come, it is only a matter of when,” the source adds.
These words were basically echoed by SSAB chief executive Johnny Sjöström during the firm’s earnings call this week. He referred to the many initiatives in Europe – safeguards, CBAM, interest rates, national incentives, action plans – which he is sure will bear fruit. “When the market comes back, it can happen fast,” he asserted.
The Swiss trader argues the opposite. “It is incredible how prices have weakened [since May], despite all these measures and plans,” he notes. An analyst at a German bank cautions that “steelmakers need to ‘talk their book’ in their own interest” but finds, too, that the “perceived reality” is less shiny.
Christian Koehl Germany
Italian rebar prices rise amid stronger demand, limited supply
Rebar prices in Italy continued upward trajectory in the week to Wednesday, July 23 supported by favorable demand situation and rather limited availability of material from suppliers ahead of scheduled maintenances.
In the northern region of the country, where the majority of the mills are located, fresh offers for B450C bars varied within the range of €550-560 ($646-658) per tonne ex-works, with bookings reported within the range of €530-550 per tonne ex-works.
In the southern region of Italy, the material was available within the range of €570-590 per tonne ex-works, with business reported done closer to the lower end of the range.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, exw Italy, was €530-570 per tonne on July 23 narrowing upward from €520-570 per tonne on July 16.
After the assessment was filed, information came to light about bookings in the south of Italy at €575-580 per tonne ex-works, but it could not be widely confirmed by the time of the story publication.
Additionally, a trader in the north indicated that mills in the region may increase their prices further before summer production halts due to favorable supply-demand conditions.
“Producers have low stocks and customers want to fill their warehouses before the closure. Demand is very good these days, which is typical in the second half of July,” the trader said.
Long steel prices soften in Northern Europe on limited demand
Prices for long steel products in Northern Europe continued to soften in the second half of July owing to generally muted demand intensified by the traditional summer holiday period.
“This year, the effect of holidays is stronger than normally,” one seller said on Wednesday July 23.
While German mills continued their attempts to sell steel rebar for €620-630 ($658-669) per tonne delivered, material from Poland was said to be traded at €600-610 per tonne delivered in Germany, with most deals closer to the lower end of that range.
Lower prices for Polish rebar result from the weakening of the domestic market in the country.
In Austria, Italian rebar in coils was heard booked for around €610 per tonne delivered, which would be equivalent to around €600 per tonne delivered for bars, while earlier in July similar material was heard booked at higher prices. This was despite the fact that, internally in Italy, rebar prices moved up over the week to July 23 owing to improved demand.
As a result, Fastmarkets’ weekly assessment of the price for steel reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic, delivered Northern Europe, widened downward to €600-630 per tonne on July 23 versus €615-630 per tonne on July 16.
Unlike in the rebar sector, mesh wire rod prices from German suppliers softened to €590-595 per tonne delivered, according to a local source.
Meanwhile, material from Poland was estimated to be available for no more than €590 per tonne delivered.
Fastmarkets’ weekly assessment for steel wire rod (mesh quality), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, widened downward to €590-610 per tonne on July 23, from €600-610 per tonne on July 16.
Upper-end prices were unchanged because prices in the Netherlands and Denmark are traditionally higher than those in Germany and Austria, but input from the former two markets was limited by holiday absences.