Day: 20 January 2026

The full implementation of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which began on 1 January, was a success, the European Commission said on 14 January.

CBAM imports declared during that first six-day reporting window totalled 1.66 million tonnes — 98% of which was steel and iron; these materials had already dominated during CBAM’s 2023-2025 transitional period.

Yet for some importers, the picture is far less rosy.

Alexander Julius, president of the EUROMETAL lobby for steel and metals, told Contexte the first two weeks under the levy were “marked by confusion and uncertainty”, which was particularly difficult for small businesses.

Companies had “no realistic chance to prepare adequately”, as critical operational documents were published a day before the launch, he said.

New contracts for post-January deliveries have also slowed down, Julius added, as many companies wait for “greater clarity and risk assessment before committing to further imports”.

Austria-headquartered Andritz has officially acquired 51% of the equity of China-based Baoding Sanzheng Electrical Equipment, Kallanish learns.

According to Andritz, the transaction was concluded in December. Andritz views this move as an important part of strengthening its position as a “comprehensive solutions provider for steel processing, in particular electrical steel”.

Sanzheng focuses on power electronics technology and provides comprehensive solutions for the induction heating field. It is located in Hebei Province, China’s largest steel-producing province.

Andritz states that Sanzheng’s annual revenue is approximately €30 million ($34.84m). This represents only 0.36% of Andritz’s revenue in 2024.

The technology supplier adds: “Sanzheng will continue to operate under its existing name and management structure, ensuring business continuity for customers and partners.”

The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority has launched a review into the possible discontinuation of safeguarding measures on aluzinc, aluminised flat steel and quarto plate, Kallanish notes from published documents.

These products come under categories 4 and 7. The TRA is expected to issue its statement of intended determination in early February 2026, with any findings taking effect from 1 April.

This comes following a tariff rate quota review requested in a submission by the International Steel Trade Association (ISTA), which notes “the clear absence of any domestic production” of the products in the UK.

In a note to its members, ISTA acknowledges that the timeline leaves limited scope for imports ahead of the current safeguard expiry on 1 July, but the review could support the exclusion of these products from any future replacement measures.

Market participants may register their interest by 25 January, with a simplified registration process aimed at encouraging broader participation, the TRA notes.

The metal forming division of steelmaker voestalpine has reported a large order for a high bay warehousing systems for sporting goods for a Turkish logistics service provider in Istanbul, Kallanish learns. 

The order includes the construction of a high bay warehouse and an automated small parts warehouse. It will have a height of almost 40 metres, a length of 222m and a width of 86m, composed of custom roll-formed profiles made at the division’s site in Krems, Austria.

With a total volume of around €41 million ($48m), the order is the company’s biggest for warehouse systems so far, it notes.

The metal forming division uses sections, tubes and precision strip steel products and ready-to-install system components made of pressed, stamped and roll-formed parts in its warehousing systems.

In the Netherlands, two 45-metre-high high-bay warehouses were recently completed for the distribution centre of furniture retailer JYSK. Another such project is currently being implemented for a retail company in the UK. The new facility, a fully automated pallet racking system, reaches a height of 30 meters and comprises thousands of storage locations for palletized and small goods.

The Austrian group says it plans further development of global activities in the area of storage systems. In the 2024/25 business year, a specially designed production site was built in Kentucky, which voestalpine says will be expanded with additional systems in the current business year.

Steel distribution groups Klöckner & Co and Worthington Steel announced on Thursday a business combination agreement, following the completion of due diligence and related negotiations. 

As part of the transaction, US company Worthington Steel intends to launch a voluntary public takeover offer for all outstanding shares of the German-based group.

Under the terms of the agreement, Worthington is offering €11.00 ($12.78) in cash for each Klöckner share. This corresponds to a premium of 81% on the closing price of Klöckner on 5 December, the date prior to which negotiations were publicly disclosed. The implied total enterprise value of the transaction is approximately €2.1 billion ($2.4 billion), Kallanish learns from a Klöckner statement.

Both Klöckner’s management board and supervisory board welcome the offer and intend to recommend its acceptance to shareholders. In their view, it reflects the intrinsic value of the group’s shares and includes an attractive premium.

According to the statement, Klöckner’s largest stakeholder, SWOCTEM GmbH/Friedhelm Loh group, has committed to tender all of its 41.53% stake. Members of Klöckner’s management board have also confirmed they will tender all shares they hold into the offer.

Klöckner & Co has over recent years gradually increased its activities in the USA under Kloeckner Metals. This set-up “complements our own capabilities in an ideal way,” says Geoff G. Gilmore, chief executive of Worthington Steel. “Together, we are poised to sustainably enhance our offerings and accelerate our growth strategy.”

Under the agreement, Klöckner will continue to operate independently and be run by the current management, with its European headquarters remaining in Düsseldorf. There are no intended layoffs or site closures, and all works council agreements will remain in force, it notes.