Poland’s Boryszew Group advances sale of Rurexpol
Poland-based Boryszew Group has announced the signing of a letter of intent for the sale of pipe producer Rurexpol, the group company that was liquidated earlier this year and ceased operations. The transaction is valued at PLN 71.5 million ($19.5 million). The agreement is expected to be finalized by October 15, following a comprehensive due diligence review by the potential buyer.
According to the statement, the sale covers real estate, movable property such as machinery and equipment, certificates, concessions, licenses, and permits, intellectual property rights, spare parts inventories and technical and technological documentation related to production lines.
If the sale is concluded, it will permanently eliminate the possibility of Rurexpol returning to the Częstochowa Steelworks, where it once operated as the pipe production division.
Italian crude output declines in June
Italian crude steel production decreased in June following a hike in May but increased in the first half of 2025, industry association Federacciai says in a note obtained by Kallanish.
June production decreased by 3.2% on-year to just over 1.7 million tonnes. However, output in the first six months of the year increased by 2.9% on-year to 11.1mt.
“The breakdown of hot steel production shows a decline common to both [flats and longs] product families [in June],” Federacciai states.
Flat steel production decreased by 6.6% to 720,000t in June but increased by 7.7% to 4.8mt in January-June. Long’s output, meanwhile, decreased 2.3% to 1mt in June and rose by 0.4% to 6.4mt in H1.
Before the production rebound this year, Italian output declined over recent years, falling by 5% on-year in 2024 to 19.9mt, by 2.5% on-year in 2023 to 21mt, and by 11.5% y-o-y in 2022 to 21.6mt.
Natalia Capra France
German construction orders recover in first half
Germany’s construction companies lifted their order intake in the first half year of 2025 by 7.2% over H1 2024, Kallanish learns from their association, Bauindustrie.
The association notes, however, that orders have increased from a low level, following a negative trend for four years. Residential construction, for example, achieved a year-on-year increase of 9.7%, but is still a considerable 31% below the level of 2021.
The last month of the reporting period, June, saw a lesser y-o-y increase, by 2.9%, and a drop versus May. This coincides with the sentiment poll of economic institute ifo (see separate story), which reports a deteriorating mood in the summer month of August, but nevertheless reports hope for the autumn months.
Bauinmdustrie notes the second quarter was more troubled than the first. It coincided with the decline in German GDP in Q2. The association sees the biggest hurdle to road infrastructure investments being government inaction.
It calls road construction the “problem child” of the industry, which it says has “virtually collapsed”. This segment saw a 5.7% decline in orders y-o-y in H1, which even worsened in June, with a drop of 13.2%. “If we do not see a revival in the second half, 2025 will be a lost year for road construction,” says managing director Tim-Oliver Müller.
Christian Koehl Germany
Improving German economic sentiment misses out manufacturing, construction
Germany’s manufacturing and construction industries’ outlook has worsened despite economic sentiment overall picking up in August.
Economic research institute ifo found that sentiment among companies in Germany has brightened in August, albeit very slightly, with the ifo Business Climate Index rising to 89.0 points, up from 88.6 points in July. However, in manufacturing industries, the index fell slightly in this segment.
In construction, the index in August edged down slightly after many months of stability, as companies expressed less satisfaction with the current situation.
The bleak sentiment in manufacturing and construction is confirmed widely in the steel industry. As one service centre manager words it to Kallanish: “We have the worst summer since we started [operations] in the mid-1980s”.
Germany’s GDP in the second quarter meanwhile fell by more than anticipated, Kallanish learns from the federal statistics office, Destatis. It declined 0.3% from Q1 after adjustment for price, seasonal and calendar variations.
The decline in economic performance was therefore 0.2 percentage points greater than communicated at the end of July. Manufacturing industries, including steel, in particular, performed worse than initially assumed. Based on the new data available, June output in manufacturing and in the construction industry, in particular, fell short of expectations, Destatis notes.
Christian Koehl Germany
Rebar prices in Italy narrow downward upon market return from holiday
Rebar prices in the Italian domestic market narrowed downward somewhat upon the gradual return of market participants from an almost month-long holiday, Fastmarkets learned on Wednesday, August 27.
This was mainly due to lower numbers heard in the southern region of the country, where prices are traditionally higher than in the northern region.
Prices in the north of Italy have remained unchanged since early August at €570-590 ($663-687) per tonne ex-works, with first bookings heard done at the lower end of this range.
For the southern region, where previous offers varied within the range of €600-620 ex-works, the estimations of market participants were limited to €600 per tonne ex-works on August 27.
As a result, Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, exw Italy, narrowed downward to €570-600 per tonne ex-works on August 27, from €570-610 per tonne on August 20.
Demand was said to still be generally quiet, as not all market participants had yet returned after summer break, but most of the sources Fastmarkets spoke to on the day expected the recovery of demand and possible price rises in September.
In Spain, prices remained stable, in line with demand.
Fastmarkets’ price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Spain, was €640-645 per tonne on August 27, unchanged week on week.
Similarly, in Northern Europe, no price changes were observed during the week.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was €635-640 per tonne on August 28, stable week on week.
A sell-side source connected with a German mill said that Northern European markets have not yet returned from holidays, and buying activity is expected to pick up in the coming weeks amid low stocks on the customers’ side.
European HRC prices broadly unchanged; pessimism grows among buyers
Industry sources said that optimism — sparked my higher HRC offers from European suppliers in end-July and early August — have faded due to continued slow demand.
“After [the] price rise announcement by ArcelorMittal and other mills in end-July, market moods improved, and buyers opted to order material [HRC] for autumn; but new offers [above €600 per tonne ex-works] that were voiced in August are hardly achievable in such market environment,” a buyer in Germany said.
In Northern Europe, offers with October lead times were still reported at €590-630 ($687-710) per tonne ex-works, with the higher end offered by a Nordic mill.
Italian mills were offering October-delivery HRC at €610-620 per tonne delivered to Germany, with no sales reported at such levels, however.
Buyers’ estimates of achievable prices were heard at €570-580 per tonne ex-works.
Buyer sources doubted the viability of the uptrend continuing into autumn considering the lack of real demand.
“European mills [have been] searching for orders for October-delivery coil. We ordered a bit more coil in end-July, following the price rise announcement, expecting further rises. We are in no rush for new bookings,” a second buyer in Germany said.
Sources did not expect any improvement in real demand in the next quarter. Moreover, buyers expressed skepticism over a potential lack of imports fueling a recovery in domestic prices.
“The CBAM [Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism] is of course limiting buying appetite of new imports, and so [are] new trade measures to replace safeguards. But there will be no shortage [of HRC] in Europe in the fourth quarter. A lot of [imported] coil is on the way to Europe, and European mills have a lot to sell, despite low-capacity utilization rates — there is no shortage of HRC,” a distributor in Benelux area said.
Fastmarkets’ calculation of the daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe was €572.50 ($666.40) per tonne on Wednesday, down by €0.42 per tonne from €572.92 per tonne the previous day.
The Northern European index was down by €1.25 per tonne week on week and up by €13.5 month on month.
The Italian market was still quiet, with buyers and sellers expected to gradually come back from the holidays in September.
Estimations of achievable prices were reported at €530-550 per tonne ex-works, while target offers from integrated mills and re-rollers in Italy for October-delivery coil were heard at €570-580 per tonne ex-works.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Italy was €540 per tonne, flat from Tuesday August 26.
The Italian index was up by €1.67 per tonne week on week, and by €13.75 per tonne month on month.
Prices for overseas coil were also stable in the week to Wednesday.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, cfr main port Southern Europe was €470-520 per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged over the past seven days.
The lower end of the range reflected offers from Indonesian suppliers and highest bids from Italian buyers. The upper end of the range reflected the lower end of offers from Turkey, India and Algeria. Sources also reported a booking of Algerian coil at €520 per tonne CFR to Italy.
Julia Bolotova, Davide Montagner
VDMA calls on Commission to secure relief from US Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum
The European Commission defends the 15 percent “tariff deal” with the U.S. as a “decision for stability and predictability.” However, an ever-growing list of critical machinery products has been left vulnerable to the much higher tariffs on steel and aluminum derivatives. This now threatens the existence of many European machinery companies. The VDMA urges the European Commission to work toward a solution.
The European Commission sees its tariff agreement with the U.S. as an act of “stability and predictability.” In an editorial article for the German daily newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen writes: “The most important element of our agreement is that we have drawn a very clear line at 15 percent for most EU products, including passenger vehicles and medicines.” However, Ms. von der Leyen fails to mention two key points that cast the “tariff deal” in a different light. First, the U.S. has significantly expanded the list of products to which the much higher steel and aluminum tariffs apply. As a result, around 30 percent of US machinery imports from the EU are now subject to a 50 percent tariff on the metal content of the product. For many companies in the manufacturing sector, such as machinery and equipment manufacturing, this means that their entire U.S. business is at risk.
Secondly, the list of steel and aluminum tariffs is to be revised every four months and expanded unilaterally by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Instead of planning security, as announced by the Commission, uncertainty will continue to prevail in transatlantic trade because the “tariff deal” is not permanent. In addition, there is a considerable additional burden of bureaucracy because the steel and aluminum tariffs are determined in a complex procedure: Among other things, companies must provide declarations on the country of melt and pour (for steel) or smelt and cast (for aluminum) for every ounce of metal in the product, and proof of the price of the metal content. The typical medium-sized machinery and equipment manufacturing company is unable to obtain this data in detail.
The VDMA has therefore addressed President von der Leyen in an open letter. In it, VDMA President Bertram Kawlath writes: “We urge the Commission to make all available efforts to relieve the EU from tariffs on steel and aluminum derivatives, and to ensure that machinery and equipment are excluded from future sectoral tariffs.”
Around 150 new products have already been added to the list of steel derivatives that will be subject to a 50 percent tariff on the metal content of the product in the future. These include motors, pumps, industrial robots and agricultural and construction machinery. At the next review in four months, further products could be added, such as drones or wind turbines and their components. For the industry, this is an unacceptable outcome of a “tariff deal” that was supposed to bring stability.
Since the U.S. tariffs were first introduced, the VDMA has expressed cautious optimism that a permanent 15 percent tariff could at least provide planning security for companies. However, following the agreement that has now been reached, VDMA President Bertram Kawlath concludes that the new steel and aluminum tariffs have once again unsettled European industry. “The harm caused by them, along with the prospect of still more in the months to come, are sending key machinery sectors hurdling toward the precipice of an existential crisis,” he warns.
WV Stahl renews contract with Kerstin Maria Rippel for five years
This contract extension signals WV Stahl’s commitment to both continuity and determination in addressing the future challenges of the steel industry.
WV Stahl President Gunnar Groebler expressed the organization’s confidence in Kerstin Maria Rippel, stating:
“By extending the contract at an early stage, we are clearly reaffirming our trust in Kerstin Maria Rippel and look forward to continuing our successful collaboration. Since May 2023, she has represented our industry internally and externally with great dedication and professionalism, significantly increasing the association’s visibility and influence in politics, the media, and society.”
Rippel thanked the association for its trust and stated:
“Together with our member companies and the WV Stahl team, I will continue to ensure that the urgent concerns of our highly pressured industry are heard in Berlin, Brussels, and across the federal states. Our long-term goal remains: ‘Clean Steel Made in Germany.’ To achieve this, we urgently need the right political framework to stay competitive.”
The contract renewal also underscores WV Stahl’s ongoing commitment to actively shaping the political and economic conditions for the industry—reinforcing Germany’s role as a sustainable and competitive industrial base for the future.
GMH Gruppe acquires two business units of Buderus Edelstahl
GMH Gruppe is acquiring two business units of Buderus Edelstahl GmbH in Wetzlar: the hot rolling mill for large, rolled steel dimensions and the machining and heat treatment facilities for highly complex open-die forged parts.
These operations will become part of GMH Gruppe, while the remaining business units will stay under the ownership of Mutares SE & Co. KGaA. The purchase price remains confidential. The transaction is subject to various closing conditions, which are expected to be fulfilled in the fourth quarter, thus enabling the legal completion of the acquisition.
With the integration of Buderus Edelstahl, GMH Gruppe continues to pursue its strategic growth agenda: strengthening existing production capabilities, expanding into new market segments, and enhancing service quality for its customers.
“We are very pleased to integrate Buderus Edelstahl into our group, as it ideally complements our portfolio in two key areas,” said Dr. Alexander Becker, CEO of GMH Gruppe. “The machining and heat treatment of highly complex open-die forgings, as well as the hot rolling mill for large dimensions, are a perfect fit with our strategic business areas: Circular Economy, Green Steel and Heavy Forging.”
The integration of Buderus Edelstahl´s business units into GMH Gruppe is planned for the fourth quarter. “We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues in the GMH family soon. The exchange of expertise and the further development of our sites will create exciting opportunities for everyone involved,” added Dr. Anne-Marie Großmann, CDO of GMH Gruppe.
Swiss Steel tests hydrogen-based decarbonization in steel production
Initial pilot trials conducted on 13 different steel grades revealed no structural changes or loss of material integrity, marking a significant step forward in the decarbonization of one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries.
Launched in April 2023 with support from the EU, HYDREAMS is the first large-scale program in the steel sector to investigate the use of hydrogen in both heating and annealing furnaces, utilizing both pulsating and flame burners.
Laurent Sieye, Sustainability Director at Ugitech, a subsidiary of Swiss Steel Group, stated: “Replacing natural gas with hydrogen in heat treatment is still in its early stages. It carries potential risks, including increased NOx emissions and possible negative impacts on steel quality and the lifespan of refractory materials in furnaces.”
The company plans to validate the findings using three industrial testing units by 2026. DEMO 3, which became operational in March 2025, is preparing for pilot trials this summer. DEMO 1 and DEMO 2, targeting other product types such as ingots and plates, are expected to be commissioned in 2026. These pilot applications build on earlier lab-scale tests and CFD simulations aimed at evaluating flame behavior, heat transfer, and exhaust gas composition under hydrogen combustion.