Day: 30 March 2026

Aquí pueden ver la edición de MARZO de nuestra revista  InfoAcero

Destacamos a continuación algunos de sus contenidos:

• Opinión – D. Jose Velasco- Junta Directiva  UAHE
• Índice UAHE:  Evolución precios de aprovisionamiento Septiembre 24 – Enero 26.
• Siderurgia:  Consumo real y aparente del acero, evolución y perspectivas- Informe Eurofer 1T
• Steel Net Forum Santander:  Programa preliminar, 27 y 28 abril 2026
• Información Asociativa – Resumen Asamblea General Unió de Magatzemistes
• Colaboración RRHH –D. Agustín Barroso– Director  RRHH HIEMESA

As the first quarter of the EU quota period from January 1 to March 31 is approaching its end, some of the import quotas for certain steel products allocated for South Korea, China, Turkey and Macedonia have already been exhausted, while over 70 percent of quotas for some steel products have been used up, according to the European Commission’s data.

Looking at the exhausted quotas, South Korea has used all of its 38,622 mt quota for electrical steel sheets (3B) and its 37,148 mt quota for metallic coated sheets (4A), while the country has exceeded its 70,318 mt quota for organic coated sheets, with 222 mt of the products waiting for customs clearance. China has exceeded its 126,937 mt and 138,863 mt quotas for metallic coated sheets (4B) and merchant bars and light sections, respectively, with 4,468 mt and 3,386 mt of the respective products waiting at EU ports. In addition, Turkey has exhausted its 93,454 mt quota for rebar, while Macedonia has exceeded its 25,948 mt quota for hollow sections, with 21 mt of the product waiting for customs clearance.

Meanwhile, South Korea has used 95.72 percent and 93.27 percent of its 159,532 mt quota for HRC (1A) and its 164,743 mt quota for metallic coated sheets (4B), respectively, while the UK has used 96.73 percent of its 35,001 mt quota for metallic coated sheets (4A). Turkey has used 92.62 percent of its 105,174 mt quota for merchant bars and light sections, while Macedonia has used 92.95 percent of its 6,955 mt quota for gas pipes.

Regarding the quotas allocated under “other countries”, Taiwan has used 99.95 percent of its 116,832 mt quota for metallic coated sheets (4A), while Vietnam has used 99.99 percent of its 14,924 mt quota for wire rod. In addition, 97.22 percent of the 103,731 mt quota for metallic coated sheets (4B) allocated for other countries has been used up.

Quota usage of the other products can be seen in the table below.

Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team

steelorbis.com

The German government has announced that it has adopted its 2026 climate protection program, marking a further step toward achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045.

The program, approved by the cabinet, will now be reviewed by the Council of Experts on Climate Issues before implementation. The measures are designed to align with legally binding climate targets and support emissions reductions by 2030 and 2040.

€2.9 billion support for industrial decarbonization

A key pillar of the program is the allocation of approximately €2.9 billion to the industrial sector.

The funding will support electrification of industrial processes, decarbonization of process heat and the development of circular economy solutions. Electrification is expected to reduce emissions while improving long-term energy efficiency and lowering dependence on natural gas imports.

According to government estimates, these measures could cut carbon emissions by at least 4.3 million mt by 2030 and reduce natural gas imports by around 2.5 billion cubic meters.

Renewable expansion and green lead markets

The program also includes accelerated expansion of renewable energy capacity, particularly an additional 12 GW of onshore wind. This expansion is expected to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions by around 6.5 million mt by 2030.

In addition, the government has introduced the concept of green lead markets for the first time, aiming to stimulate demand for low-carbon materials such as climate-friendly steel and cement, particularly through public procurement and the automotive sector.

Steel sector calls for stronger implementation

German Steel Federation (WV Stahl) CEO Kerstin Maria Rippel stated that the program provides a comprehensive framework for achieving climate targets but emphasized that its success will depend on effective implementation. She welcomed the inclusion of lead markets for low-carbon steel, noting that stable and predictable demand is essential for scaling up production. However, Rippel criticized the absence of concrete measures in the rail sector, describing it as a missed opportunity given its importance for industrial decarbonization.

She also stressed that the design of lead markets will be critical, particularly in upcoming legislation such as the Public Procurement Acceleration Act. According to her, without a “Made in Europe” criterion, public funding could support decarbonization outside Europe, weakening domestic industry.

WV Stahl emphasized that Europe must create strong lead markets specifically for low-emission steel produced within the EU. Rippel concluded that climate policy and industrial competitiveness must be addressed together, warning that only a balanced approach can ensure both successful decarbonization and the preservation of Europe’s industrial base.

Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team

steelorbis.com

Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are shifting away from battery electric vehicles (BEV) and toward hybrid vehicles, top executives at Worthington Steel said at the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Thursday March 26.

The pivot is due to multiple factors, Geoffrey Gilmore, chief executive officer, president and director, said on Thursday, citing the removal of the fuel economy mandate and of the $7,500 federal tax credit.

In December 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration proposed rolling back the Biden-era Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, a move that has the potential to reduce compliance pressure on automakers to raise fleet-wide miles-per-gallon and could lessen incentives to deploy fuel-saving technologies or electrification to meet federal targets.

Months before that, the Trump administration reduced government support for EV purchases by signing the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” into law on July 4, 2025, which eliminated eligibility for a tax incentive of up to $7,500, effective September 30, 2025.

“The market is clearly pivoting away from a government-driven BEV mandate to a consumer-led demand for hybrids. The data is quite clear,” Gilmore said, highlighting increased consumer interest in hybrid and full EVs due to rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions.

Regular gasoline prices in the US had risen to $3.96 per gallon by March 23, an increase of $0.46 per gallon, or 13.14%, from $3.50 per gallon on March 9, data from the US Energy Information Administration showed.

Worthington Steel’s outlook for the automotive market in 2026 was “cautiously optimistic”, the CEO said.

“Conditions appear to be moving toward a more robust market later in the year. That view is supported by growing confidence that a [US-Mexico-Canada Agreement] will be completed in 2026, removing a significant amount of market uncertainty,” Gilmore said.

USMCA renegotiation discussions between the US and its two trading partners began in March.

Electrical steel expansions in Canada, Mexico
Worthington Steel shared the firm’s progress on its electrical steel expansion projects in Mexico and Canada.

“We are excited by the growth in hybrids as we have the opportunity to produce the electrical steel laminations for a hybrid traction motor, as well as the specialty cold-rolled steel used in the powertrain for the hybrid internal combustion engine,” Gilmore said.

The company has shifted some production to their new facility in Burlington, Ontario, the CEO said.

“We will finish moving the existing equipment and production to the new facility over the next few months. We have more than 60% of the increased capacity sold for the facility,” Gilmore told investors.

Meanwhile, the firm’s traction motor lamination facility expansion in Apodaca, Mexico, is “on track and will begin shipping production parts this quarter”, Gilmore said.

The building expansion has been completed and the facility’s five initial electrical presses for electrical steel lamination have been installed, with five remaining presses still expected to be installed, according to the company’s investor presentation.

The project, announced in October 2023, will expand electrical steel operations to a 185,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the existing facility, making the Apodaca facility Tempel’s largest laminated electrical steel production site for the motor and transformer sector. Once online, the facility will produce traction motor lamination cores for electric vehicles.

“Almost all the OEMs tied to the expansion are experiencing some type of OEM delays,” Gilmore said. “Previously, we expected to reach full production levels in fiscal 2028. But the OEMs have pushed out a number of the programs for a variety of reasons.”

Gilmore added: “While timing is shifting on production starts for some of our new programs, when these platforms reach full production volumes in fiscal 2029, we will be at 75% capacity based upon the current contracts. These delays are not surprising, as many automotive OEMs are rethinking their electrification strategy.”

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for electrical steel, non-grain oriented, ex-whs Eastern China was $609-631 per tonne on March 20, down by 0.16% from $609-633 per tonne on March 13.

Meanwhile, Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for electrical steel, non-grain oriented, cfr India was $660-680 per tonne on March 20, up by 4.69% from $640 per tonne on March 13.

European import prices for steel hot-rolled coil increased in the week to Wednesday March 25 amid limited availability and surging freight costs.

The escalation of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has affected import routes, especially from Asia, increasing freight costs. Meanwhile, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) remains a key factor pressuring import volumes, Fastmarkets understands.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, cfr main port Northern Europe was €608-685 ($704-794) per tonne on Wednesday, rising from €570-575 per tonne the previous week.

Offers from Turkey, including duties, were heard at €685 per tonne CFR, while other offers from Asian origins were reported within the range of €608-630 per tonne CFR.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, cfr main port Southern Europe was €640-690 per tonne, rising from €570-640 per tonne the previous week.

Offers from Turkey were heard at €640-655 per tonne CFR and offers from Algeria to Spain for June delivery were heard at €690-710 per tonne CFR.

The DDP assessments for HRC imported to Northern and Southern Europe also increased in the week to Wednesday.

Offers for imported HRC to Southern Europe, including CBAM-related costs, were reported at €740-775 per tonne DDP. Estimates were also heard at €720 per tonne DDP.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, ddp Southern Europe was €720-740 per tonne, up from €640-670 per tonne the previous week.

The corresponding price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, ddp Northern Europe was €720-740 per tonne, up from €650-670 per tonne in the previous assessment period.

The updated assessment is in line with estimates of workable levels also heard at €720-740 per tonne DDP.

Worthington Steel’s acquisition of German metals company Kloeckner & Co is “progressing well” and is expected to complete in the second half of 2026, chief executive officer, president and director Geoffrey Gilmore of the US-based steel processor said on Thursday March 26.

The voluntary public takeover offer had been at least two years in the making, Gilmore told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on January 16.

The merger would create the second-largest steel service center company in North America with more than $9.5 billion of combined revenue.

Although Kloeckner & Co is a German company, about 75% of its shipments are in North America, making it an attractive acquisition target, Gilmore said in January.

The transaction remains subject to the tender process and required regulatory approvals, Gilmore said, adding that he expects the deal to be completed in the second half of the year.

“We have submitted requests for regulatory approval in the required jurisdictions, and we are beginning to see approvals come through. Overall, the process is progressing well,” the CEO told investors on the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Thursday, adding that the company has received “overwhelmingly positive” response from customers, suppliers and investors.

The German public company takeover process is “highly structured,” Gilmore shared on Thursday.

Kloeckner & Co, with approximately 110 locations across North America and Europe and product capabilities including carbon flat-roll steel (sheet and plate), electrical steel, aluminium, stainless steel and long products, was an attractive M&A target because it is a “highly complementary business” with “adjacent markets” to Worthington Steel’s operations, Gilmore told Fastmarkets.

Together, the combined company will have about 12,000 employees, Gilmore said.

European domestic prices for steel cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil increased in the week to Wednesday March 25, supported by prolonged limitations on imported materials and rising production costs, affecting local prices.

Despite real demand in Europe remaining relatively weak while buyers resist price increases, market participants saw a steady upward trend in prices with mills pushing higher offer levels across the region, Fastmarkets understands.

The escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran has had a profound effect on import routes, limiting the flow of steel to the block, especially from Asian origins.

This, paired with the introduction of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at the start of the year, has badly affected import volumes.

Shifting geopolitical dynamics have also resulted in spikes in the costs of energy and raw materials, which have led European producers to increase prices, while freight and logistics have also been affected.

According to market sources, actual consumption has shown a downward trend in recent weeks, while market uncertainty, mainly driven by the situation in the Middle East, was also having an effect on domestic production.

In Northern Europe, domestic CRC and HDG prices increased in the week to March 25.

For domestic CRC, a sale was reported at €830 ($959) per tonne ex-works, while estimates of tradable levels were reported around €800-820 per tonne ex-works during the assessment period.

Heightened volatility in energy prices was expected to have a stronger effect on domestic CRC production, mainly due to the energy needs of the processes used by European mills, such as batch annealing.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel cold-rolled coil, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was €820-830 per tonne on Wednesday, narrowing upward from €800-830 per tonne the previous week.

Meanwhile, the weekly price assessment for steel hot-dipped galvanized coil, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was €820-830 per tonne, rising from €800-810 per tonne the previous week.

The new assessment aligned with some higher estimates of workable levels heard around €820-830 per tonne ex-works.

Meanwhile, in Southern Europe, prices for domestic CRC remained stable in the week to Wednesday.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel cold-rolled coil, domestic, exw Southern Europe, was €810-840 per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.

But domestic HDG levels in Southern Europe increased during the assessment period.

An offer of HDG was heard at €840 per tonne ex-works, while estimates of workable levels were heard within the range of €820-830 per tonne ex-works.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for steel hot-dipped galvanized coil, domestic, exw Southern Europe, was €820-840 per tonne on Wednesday, rising from €800-830 per tonne the previous week.

Import flows into Europe were still limited amid regulatory and geopolitical developments, with buyers increasingly turning toward domestic suppliers while imported materials become riskier to obtain.

Prices for imported CRC and HDG were unchanged during the week, for both CFR and DDP assessments.

Amid the difficult situation for importers, Asian suppliers were recently heard to be offering material on an FOB basis as a means to avoid fluctuations in transport-related costs. But no new offers or trading activity were reported during the assessment period.

The Rhine port of Kehl in southwestern Germany achieved an 14.6% increase of steel and scrap handled at the port to 3.364 million tonnes in 2025.

The category of iron and steel products has by far the biggest share of the tonnage handled, with 76% of the port’s total, Kallanish notes.

The port’s total handling volume for water vessels in the year of its 125th anniversary was 4.430mt, 6.8% higher than in 2024. This is the port’s second largest volume since the record was set in 2020.

Railway transport rose also, by 2.0%, to 2.7mt, with the combined volume of ships and railways reaching to 7.139mt, 5% higher than in 2024.

Kehl on the Rhine, near Strasbourg on the French side, is the location of rebar mill Badische Stahlwerke.

For steel and scrap, Kehl is the most important port in the Upper Rhine region, close to France and Switzerland, and arguably Germany’s biggest inland port outside the Ruhr region. The share of ships sailing under the Dutch flag is 74%, at the Kehl port with German ships accounting for 20%, according to the port authority.

Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel is to stop production at its Isbergues plant in France from June to September, amid worsening market conditions for grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES), Kallanish notes.

The shutdown follows earlier production cuts at both Isbergues and the Germany-based Gelsenkirchen site, with the French facility operating at around 50% capacity since January. The latest measure comes amid an intensifying surge in GOES imports into Europe. Despite the stoppage, the company says customer supply will be maintained.

“In view of the ruinous flood of imports in the market for grain-oriented electrical steel, we see no alternative but to temporarily shut down our French site once again … We are faced with import prices that in some cases lie well below production costs in the EU. We therefore urgently need appropriate trade protection to establish fair competitive conditions for this strategically important product,” Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel chief executive Angelo di Martino says.

“This also concerns around 1,200 skilled jobs, which we aim to safeguard at our sites in Gelsenkirchen and Isbergues,” he adds. The company is in talks with the European Commission to implement effective safeguards measures, he notes.

EU GOES imports have tripled since 2022 and increased by a further 50% in 2025, now accounting for more than half of the bloc’s market, according to the steelmaker. This has led to a sharp decline in order intake and significant decrease in domestic consumption.

Despite the current pressure, long-term fundamentals remain positive. Global demand for grain-oriented electrical steel is expected to triple by 2050. Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel is one of only three European producers of GOES, used in transformers for power grids and renewable energy applications. Maintaining European GOES production is seen as strategic for energy security and the transition to low-carbon energy.