EU lowers AD duties on HRC from Egypt’s Ezz Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel
The European Commission (EC) has announced the definitive results of antidumping (AD) duty investigation on the imports of HRC from Egypt, Japan and Vietnam. The definitive antidumping duty rates for Egypt-based Ezz Steel and Japan-based Nippon Steel have been decreased compared to the provisional rates. The investigation covered the period from April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
The results of the investigation showed that imports of HRC from the given countries had been dumped and were causing damage to EU HRC producers.
Accordingly, the definitive antidumping duties have been determined at 11.7 percent for Ezz Steel Company and all other Egyptian companies, 30.4 percent for Japan-based Nippon Steel Corporation, 6.9 percent for Tokyo Steel and 30.1 percent for all other Japanese exporters, 12.1 percent for Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation and all other Vietnamese companies.
The provisional antidumping duties imposed on April 7 were at 12.8 percent for Ezz Steel Company and all other Egyptian companies, 42.5 percent for Japan-based Nippon Steel Corporation and 6.9 percent for Tokyo Steel, 12.1 percent for Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation and all other Vietnamese companies.
The products currently fall under Customs Tariff Statistics Position Numbers 7208 10 00, 7208 25 00, 7208 26 00, 7208 27 00, 7208 36 00, 7208 37 00, 7208 38 00, 7208 39 00, 7208 40 00, 7208 52 10, 7208 52 99, 7208 53 10, 7208 53 90, 7208 54 00, 7211 13 00, 7211 14 00, 7211 19 00, 7225 19 10 90, 7225 30 90, 7225 40 60 90, 7225 40 90, 7226 19 10 91, 7226 19 10 95, 7226 91 91, and 7226 91 99.
Romanian flats steel spot market remains quiet with stable offers amid slower business activity
The Romanian flats steel spot market has shown no signs of improvement over the past week, with offers remaining stable. This ongoing quietness and price stability are largely attributed to the beginning of the August vacation period, which has slowed both business operations and import activity. Although slight increases have been seen in import prices, mainly driven by ArcelorMittal’s upward adjustments in previous weeks, these changes have not yet impacted domestic Romanian flat steel prices. Spot offers remain steady, with some flexibility in pricing for large volume orders, as sluggish sales are expected to continue through the end of August.
As a result, workable domestic hot rolled sheet (HRS) prices in the spot market are currently quoted at €700-720/mt ex-warehouse, unchanged from last week. However, traders are reportedly offering discounts of €10-15/mt to serious buyers.
Similarly, cold rolled sheet (CRS) prices have also remained flat week on week, standing at around €825-835/mt ex-warehouse.
Meanwhile, in the import market, recent price hikes by ArcelorMittal have led to moderate increases from other suppliers. This week, Ukrainian offers for HRS and CRS rose by €5-10/mt, now reaching €590-605/mt CFR and €680-695/mt CFR, respectively, for August–September shipments. A similar upward trend is seen in Turkish HRC offers but is primarily influenced by rising Chinese prices. According to reports, Turkish FOB prices are now at $530-550/mt, and with freight costs estimated at €15-20/mt, delivered prices to Romania are calculated at approximately €480-500/mt CFR for September shipment, up from last week’s €465-480/mt CFR. However, Romanian buyers remain hesitant to purchase imported material from outside the EU, as shipments would only be cleared under the next EU import quota round starting on October 1. Many consider it too early to begin restocking under those conditions.
Bulgarian domestic longs prices soften amid summer season
Over the past month, Bulgarian domestic longs prices have decreased by BGN 10/mt (€5/mt) amid the sluggish demand during summer season. The general outlook on the demand side in Bulgaria is still negative and a few Bulgarian buyers are sending enquiries to Turkey in order to take advantage of €/$ parity.
In the import segment, Turkish rebar and wire rod export offers to Bulgaria for August-early September shipments are respectively available at $555-565/mt CFR, up by $5/mt, and $565-575/mt CFR, up by $10/mt over the past month, with the freight rate from Turkey to Bulgaria estimated at around $15-20/mt. Sources report ex-Romania rebar offers to Bulgaria is at around €605-615/mt CPT so far. Romanian rebar price level seems a bit high under the current market conditions.
TSR signs long-term scrap deal with voestalpine
TSR Group has concluded a long-term supply agreement with voestalpine, Kallanish learns from Germany’s largest steel scrap merchant.
The deal concerns the delivery of various grades of steel scrap from TSR’s subsidiaries, Johann Neumüller GmbH in Linz, Austria and ALFA Rohstoffhandel München GmbH in Munich, Germany. The proximity of these subsidiaries to voestalpine’s Linz and Donawitz sites will keep transport mileage down and ensure the logistics in place are both reliable and efficient, TSR notes.
The collaboration is to ensure that voestalpine has a reliable, long-term supply of recycled raw materials so that it has the foundations needed for its green transition strategy.
Initial plans are to supply these materials until 2034. The volumes are set to increase from 2027 onwards to help cover the growing demand that will result from voestalpine’s technological changes, TSR says,
“This change in technology will mean that we will need greater volumes of scrap and so having sufficient supplies of scrap will be key here. Thanks to our collaboration with the TSR Group, we now have an experienced partner at our side who understands our requirements,” says Hubert Zajicek, head of voestalpine’s Steel division.
Christian Koehl Germany
UK steel sector welcomes reinstated EU quotas
Industry players in the UK steel sector have welcomed the recently reinstated European country-specific quotas for countries including the UK, Kallanish learns.
The European Commission reinstated country-specific quotas for steel angles, shapes and sections (category 17) for the UK, Türkiye and South Korea from 1 August.
The UK can now export up to 27,000 tonnes of steel to the EU each quarter. The UK government says in a press release that the move “delivers on a UK-EU Summit commitment and reinforces the government’s Plan for Change to rebuild Britain’s industrial strength” and stimulate exports and employment.
“This is yet another positive step forward for the UK steel sector and a clear example of our Plan for Change in action — removing barriers, supporting jobs, and backing British industry. Restoring our steel quota helps give producers the certainty they need to compete, grow and maintain vital export relationships,” comments secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds.
“The restored quota will re-establish historic trade flows between the UK and the EU, easing the administrative and financial burdens that have affected steel exporters,” Reynolds adds. “It will provide much-needed certainty for UK steel operating in an increasingly volatile global market.”
British Steel welcomes the announcement, with Lisa Coulson, interim chief commercial officer, describing the removal of EU tariffs on British-made steel as a “significant boost” to the business.
“The EU is an important market to us, particularly for the products our highly skilled colleagues manufacture in Scunthorpe, Teesside and Skinningrove. We are delighted we will be able to provide the high-quality products our loyal and supportive EU customers require tariff-free and thank the UK government for delivering this agreement,” she says.
Gareth Stace, director-general of UK Steel says: “The restoration of the country-specific quota is excellent news for UK steel companies which have been plagued by problems shipping category 17 products into the European Union. The quota will restore historic trade flows and is good news for both UK steelmakers and their EU customers.”
Carrie Bone UK
ArcelorMittal expands commitment to low-carbon steel with LESS membership across Europe
Global steel giant ArcelorMittal has announced that its subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Spain have joined the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), reinforcing the company’s leadership in producing low-carbon steel in Europe. ArcelorMittal Germany became a founding member of LESS in 2024.
What is LESS?
The Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) is a voluntary initiative aimed at creating a credible and unified framework for labeling low-emission steel in the EU, and is already adopted by around 45 percent of European steelmakers. Although demand for low-carbon steel is increasing, most of the steel in Europe is still produced with conventional methods.
ArcelorMittal scales up XCarb® low-carbon steel
ArcelorMittal is currently Europe’s leading supplier of low-carbon steel through its XCarb® brand. In 2024, the company delivered 400,000 mt of XCarb® steel and expects that number to increase in 2025.
Policy support: EU’s Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act
The European Commission’s Steel and Metals Action Plan that was published in March this year has introduced mechanisms to support green steel markets. The upcoming Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act aims to stimulate demand for locally produced low carbon metals in public procurement and create lead markets to increase the use of low carbon steel in industries such as automotive and construction.
Challenges ahead: Insufficient policy and challenging market conditions
Despite its commitment, ArcelorMittal faces delays in its decarbonization projects due to insufficient policies and challenging market conditions. Current investments are focused on expanding electric arc furnace (EAF) capacity in Gijón and Sestao in Spain to increase XCarb® steel production.
EU steel industry calls for immediate action to safeguard steel value chain
The European steel value chain is facing an alarming downturn. With accelerating deindustrialization across steel production, processing, and distribution, the sector’s competitiveness and long-term sustainability are now under threat. In response, the European Federation of Steel, Tubes and Metals Distribution & Trade (EUROMETAL) and the European Steel Association (EUROFER), two leading industry associations, have made a joint appeal for the immediate introduction of targeted trade measures, aimed at restoring balance rather than halting imports altogether.
The associations stated that the steel industry plays a strategic role in Europe’s economic and environmental landscape, especially as it moves toward a green and digital economy. However, non-EU steel-based products are flooding the market, often without the same safeguards applied to raw steel imports.
They noted that key challenges of unrestricted imports are up to 50 percent of steel-based products used in energy applications now being sourced externally; declining domestic production and job losses across the steel supply chain; shrinking investment in R&D, undermining Europe’s ability to lead in clean industrial technologies.
Noting that the Steel and Metals Action Plan, developed to protect EU industrial capability and employment emphasizes the need for balanced trade conditions, the associations stated that, however, current regulations do not sufficiently cover downstream products – those made with or from imported steel. Carbon leakage in downstream products – where emissions are effectively outsourced – poses a major risk, just like raw material imports. This lack of protection may encourage further offshoring of industrial activity, undermining Europe’s climate objectives and strategic autonomy in green technology, the associations noted.
202050728 Joint Statement by EUROFER and EUROMETAL – Steel Derivatives
BMW to use Voestalpine’s electrical steel in next-gen EV motors
Austrian steelmaker Voestalpine AG has announced that it has signed a landmark agreement with BMW Group for the supply of its high-efficiency isovac® electrical steel, marking a pivotal advancement in the evolution of electric mobility.
Under the deal, BMW’s Steyr plant in Austria will begin incorporating isovac® ultra-thin electrical steel featuring advanced coating technologies into its Gen6 electric motors that will power the automaker’s upcoming Neue Klasse EV lineup.
isovac® steel: Core of BMW’s electric innovation
Key advantages of isovac® electrical steel for electric vehicles include lower energy loss through specialized alloy compositions and cutting-edge coating technologies; higher power and torque due to improved magnetic flux density; and improved energy efficiency and reduced weight, made possible by high mechanical strength and magnetic permeability. These features make isovac® a critical material for modern electric motors, improving performance and enhancing sustainability.
This shift highlights the importance of regional value creation and technological leadership as Europe accelerates its transition toward a greener, more electrified future.
EU groups call to curb imports of steel derivatives
European steel association Eurofer and distributors association EUROMETAL joined forces to call for trade measures on ‘steel derivatives’ – goods containing steel, they said on 28 July.
The new measures are needed to re-establish equilibrium and ensure that import volumes align with the sustainability of EU-based steel industry, they said.
“The influx of non-EU steel based products continues to replace EU-manufactured goods, entering the market without being subject to equivalent protective measures as for imported steel,” the two industry groups said in a joint statement.
“Sectors critical to Europe’s green transition are experiencing significant challenges due to these imports,” they added.
Earlier this year, the European Commission launched a public consultation on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), including possible extension of the measures to downstream products.
Eurofer and Eurometal claimed that similar expansion is needed in traditional trade measures as lack of those expose European steel industry to growing risks from floods of imported steel containing goods
“A similar risk exists in trade policy: exempting downstream products from effective trade protections could intensify pressures — and subsequent damage — deeper into the supply chain,” the statement said.
The statement cited finding released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that there is an ongoing structural shift in global trade patterns, noting record-high direct Chinese steel exports in 2024 alongside rapid growth in indirect steel exports embedded within fabricated or transformed products, particularly originating from China and South Asia.
On 23 June the US extended the 50% steel tariff downstream to the steel content of relevant imports, including products such as white goods.
202050728 Joint Statement by EUROFER and EUROMETAL – Steel Derivatives
Maria Tanatar Associate Director, Steel and Green Steel
EU rebar prices up despite seasonal slowdown
Northwest European rebar prices inched higher in the week to 30 July. Trading activity remains thin amid the summer slowdown, but bullish signals from surrounding regional markets gave producers room to increase offer levels in anticipation of stronger post-holiday demand.
McCloskey’s sources reported prices for Northwest European rebar between EUR615-625/t delivered.
Market participants confirm the market as quiet for summer holidays, which will continue to weigh on trading activity for the coming weeks, and expect this week’s offer price increase to serve as a sign of higher prices to come once producers complete holiday-aligned maintenance.
“List prices are up slightly,” said a Benelux distributor. “Nobody wants to buy due to the holidays, so any effects won’t be seen for a couple of weeks, this is more of a signal for the market in case of demand recovery.”
That said, buying at prices close to EUR600/t was no longer considered negotiable with domestic producers, considered as having sufficient orderbooks to carry them through the quieter summer period. Higher prices in the Italian and Spanish domestic markets were cited as factors giving North European sellers room to increase offer levels.
Imported steel is also becoming less attractive as associated lead times increasingly fall liable to Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) clearance duties.
While Turkish and North African material could still feasibly arrive in time before January, availability for said origins is tighter given competitive pricing and recent changes to rebar import restrictions under the European steel safeguard system – potentially compounded long-term if intensified replacement measures are introduced ahead of schedule as rumoured, from January.
Benjamin Steven Journalist, Steel