Construction firm Depenbrock to use SSAB fossil-free steel
German construction company Depenbrock has entered a partnership with SSAB for fossil-free steels for use in water construction and other civil engineering purposes.
With fossil-free steels, Depenbrock can offer projects to private and public customers with a noticeably reduced CO2 footprint, the company tells Kallanish.
“By integrating fossil-free steels, we help customers improve their environmental footprint, and to also secure better conditions for financing and taxation,” says managing director Erik Depenbrock.
As part of the cooperation with SSAB, Depenbrock is undertaking a comprehensive examination of ports and docks, bridges and other water-specific construction, to adjust the findings with the steelmaker’s expertise.
“Especially in hydraulic construction and civil engineering, mechanic wear and resistance against environmental impact ask for especially demanding standards. We can contribute our experience from other industrial applications, and adjust them for construction, together with the experts from Depenbrock,” says Tim Kalthaus, business area manager at SSAB Europe.
Depenbrock operates 23 sites in Germany and Poland, and achieves annual revenue of around €750 million ($883m) with 1,400 employees.
Christian Koehl Germany
Italian car output plunges, Draghi warns over growth
Italian passenger car production plunged again year-on-year in July and fell in the first seven months of the year, a member of automotive association Associazione Nazionale Filiera Industria Automobilistica (Anfia) confirms to Kallanish.
Car output stood at 16,899 units in July, down by 33.9% on-year. In the first seven months, output fell 31.8% on-year to 153,339 units.
By comparison, the UK recorded a hefty y-o-y decline in July of 31.5% to 69,100 cars and a more moderate 5.5% decline to 454,900 units in January-July. German production ticked up in July and January-July by 5.6% to 347,100 cars and 5% to 2.5 million units, respectively, according to Anfia data.
Italian car output in 2024 declined 42.8% versus 2023 to 309,758 units. The total number of vehicles produced in the country last year, including heavy duty vehicles, amounted to 519,000 units, reflecting a 32.3% decline compared to 2023.
On 16 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mario Draghi opened a conference to review progress on the recommendations from Draghi’s report published last year on Europe’s future competitiveness.
In a speech monitored by Kallanish, Draghi said the 2035 deadline for eliminating exhaust emissions was expected to trigger a virtuous cycle; clear targets would stimulate investment in charging infrastructure, expand the domestic market, drive innovation in Europe, and make electric vehicles more affordable. The batteries and semiconductors sectors were also expected to develop. But this has not happened.
The electric vehicle market has grown more slowly than anticipated. European innovation has lagged behind, models remain expensive, and supply chain policy is fragmented. In reality, Europe’s car fleet of 250 million vehicles is ageing, and CO2 emissions have declined only marginally in recent years.
“The foundations of Europe’s growth – expanding world trade and high-value exports – have weakened further … Our growth model is fading. Vulnerabilities are mounting. And there is no clear path to finance the investments we need,” noted Draghi.
Anfia reiterates the urgent need to act in line with the Draghi Report. In a note obtained by Kallanish it is calling for a revision of CO2 targets for the 2025-2027 period and a recalibration of the 2030 targets, suggesting an increase to 75-80 g/km. For 2035 it proposes both a five-year extension to compliance deadlines and a quota allowing up to 25% of vehicles to be non-BEVs.
The primary objectives of these proposals are the decarbonisation of mobility, the protection and competitive repositioning of the supply chain, and the achievement of technological sovereignty free from external dependencies. The association also seeks to enhance EU-made vehicle and component production, while calling for the introduction of a regulatory framework on local content.
Natalia Capra France
Spanish rebar prices decrease
Spanish rebar prices have fallen €10-15/tonne ($12-18) since the beginning of September, market sources tell Kallanish. Activity has not recovered as expected following the summer holiday and demand for long steel in Spain remains volatile.
“We expected more purchases in early September, based on the increase in pre-bookings in the last few weeks before the holiday market shutdown. However, sales are a little slow for the season,” says one seller. “Even with lower prices, demand remains subdued.”
Traders confirm mills in Spain have been under pressure to lower their prices, mainly due to increased supply and strong competition from non-EU imports.
“Most suppliers to the construction sector are seeing stable orders. Market sentiment is positive from the public works side, while supplies to private construction are volatile, although activity has picked up compared to the July-August period,” says a representative of a local construction company.
According to Spanish Chamber of Commerce data, the monthly index for Spanish domestic rebar prices (B-500 SD 12 meter/12mm) increased for an eighth consecutive month in August. The index stood at 198.65, up 0.3% over July. It was also 9.3% higher year-on-year. The index is based on a value of 100 in 2014.
Current offers for 16mm rebar in Spain are at €358-368/t base. Including €262/t size extras and loading expenses, transaction values are at €620-630/t ex-works.
Todor Kirkov Bulgaria