Salzgitter reports better H1 for longs than flats
Salzgitter kept struggling with low market demand in the first half of the year, and in most categories reported lower earnings than a year ago, with sections performing better than flat products, Kallanish notes.
Crude steel production at its Steel Production business unit, comprising the oxygen converter-route strip mill in Salzgitter and EAF-based sections mill in Peine, was 2.49 million tonnes, down from 2.69mt in the first half of 2024.
The unit’s shipments, which cover strip and sections, were virtually on par with the corresponding 2024 period at 2.8mt. Order intake fell slightly below the level of the previous year, from 2.58mt to 2.46mt. The company notes that order intake in the strip steel segment underperformed due to weaker demand, whereas the sections segment remained virtually stable.
Division revenue was lower than the previous year’s figure, totalling €1.7 billion ($1.99 billion) versus €1.81 billion, pressured by the considerable decline in the price of strip steel products. In the sections segment, sales were up year-on-year supported by somewhat higher shipments and prices, Salzgitter says, but does not provide separate figures for the product groups.
Salzgitter’s Steel Process business unit, which covers tubes and heavy plate, saw order intake drop slightly from €911m to €873m. With shipments and selling prices down, revenue fell by about a quarter y-o-y, also due to the spin-off of the stainless tubes subunit.
After a process lasting more than two years, plate unit lsenburger Grobblech GmbH, a producer of defence steels, received the first partial approval from the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in June. Its Secure 500 steel grade in a thickness range of 6-16mm has been approved for use by the military, in vehicles and protective systems. “We are in the approval process for other steels,” the company notes.
Christian Koehl Germany
EU stainless trader proposes duty-free SME import quota
German stainless steel trader Gerber Steel is proposing that an annual tonnage of steel imports be exempt from EU safeguard tariffs if the importer is a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME).
Gerber finds that SMEs, in particular, suffer from high tariffs, although they cause limited carbon emissions, especially when CBAM is also accounted for. This double burden for SMEs “means an enormous bureaucratic effort, and also competitive disadvantages against bigger corporations,” says chief executive Thorsten Gerber. “According to Eursostat, 3% of large companies in the EU are responsible for 57% of all steel imports. Therefore, SMEs cannot be blamed for possible dumping and should be exempted from European trade defence measures,” he tells Kallanish.
As a solution, Gerber proposes that SMEs be granted a volume of 25,000 tonnes/year that are exempt from tariffs, as well as from CBAM reporting obligations and future regulations of a similar kind.
Gerber Steel criticises the current Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system, as it is based on a first-come-first-served principle, to the particular disadvantage of smaller players, as big players tend to exhaust the quotas with large-tonnage orders.
With the current safeguard quotas expiring in June 2026, the company furthermore warns against a hasty introduction of a new trade instrument before CBAM is functional. The lack of CBAM benchmarks and “default values” is an example of how immature regulations hurt especially small and medium-sized players, Gerber asserts.
Campaigning under the name “EU Steel Carbon Shield”, the company presented in June its concept to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Christian Koehl Germany
Rest in Peace Hasso Haibach
It is with deep sadness that we have learned of the passing of Hasso Haibach, CEO of Becker Stahl-Service GmbH, after a short and serious illness.
We had the privilege of collaborating and working with Mr. Haibach over the past two years. During this time, we came to know him not only as an outstanding business leader, but also as a person of remarkable integrity, empathy, and openness. His genuine interest in people, his ability to listen, and his respectful manner left a lasting impression on all who worked with him.
Mr. Haibach’s leadership was marked by fairness, sincerity, and a readiness for dialogue, even in challenging situations.
On behalf of EUROMETAL and its members, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, his loved ones, and his colleagues at Becker Stahl-Service. He will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude.
In silent remembrance, EUROMETAL.
Becker Stahl-Service appoints Bernd Guttek as new COO
EUROMETAL member Becker Stahl-Service has announced the appointment of Dr. Bernd Guttek as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective 15 August 2025.
The newly created position is part of Becker’s strategy to strengthen its operational structures and set a clear course for the company’s future direction.
Dr. Guttek brings decades of international leadership experience in the manufacturing industry, particularly in operations and supply chain management. Prior to joining Becker, he held senior operational responsibilities at Adient, overseeing several European production facilities.