Green steel projects update: The momentum builds
Recent months have been packed with developments in the green steel market. Alongside regulatory changes such as the start of the definitive stage of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in the EU, companies worldwide have reported progress on existing projects or announced new installations.
This article summarises key green steel market news from late 2025 to January 2026, tracked in the latest update of the Green Steel Projects Database. Further analysis of over 200 publicly announced plans and ongoing projects can be found in the Global Green Steel Profile.
Asia and Oceania
- In December 2025, Calix, an Australian environmental technology company, announced that Rio Tinto completed due diligence for a proposed 30,000 tpa hydrogen-based direct reduced iron/hot briquetted iron (DRI/HBI) pilot plant, paving the way for Rio Tinto’s $3 million financial contribution. This plant will utilize Calix’s ZESTY technology, which uses renewable electricity (for heating) and hydrogen (as a reducing agent) to process low-grade iron ore without the need for granulation or a fluidized bed.
- Green Steel and Iron (GISA) and Tempest Minerals (TEM) signed a binding agreement granting GISA the right to acquire the Remorse magnetite iron ore deposit project. GISA is considering an initial public offering to fund a 2.5 mtpa export-oriented HBI plant in Western Australia. A final investment decision is expected in 2027, with operations slated to begin in 2030. The plant is expected to run on natural gas, transitioning to green hydrogen when it becomes available and economically viable.
- In December 2025, Fortescue signed an agreement with Taiyuan Iron and Steel (TISCO), a subsidiary of China Baowu, to launch an industrial trial of hydrogen-based plasma iron and steel production. This technology is expected to be compatible with Pilbara ores and will require no sintering, pelletising, or coking, with a pilot plant capable of producing up to 5,000 tonnes of iron per year.
- The same month, China’s HBIS commissioned two industrial CCUS pilot projects at its new Tangsteel plant. According to HBIS, the first project captures blast furnace gases to produce bacterial proteins, while the second uses low-concentration CO2 fumes, dust and steel slag to produce construction materials.
- In October 2025, Baosteel’s Zhanjiang Dongshan completed a test of a new 220-tonne EAF designed to use DRI, hot metal and scrap to produce automotive-grade steel. In 2023, Zhanjiang steelworks launched a 1 mtpa DRI demonstration plant running on natural gas, coke oven gas and hydrogen.
- In December 2025, India launched its national CCUS roadmap, allocating over $11 billion for research and development, although no specific timeline was reported. Meanwhile, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India urged the government to implement incentives for hydrogen-based DRI production, waste heat recovery systems, captive renewable energy power plants, and scrap collection and recycling.
- In December 2025, ArcelorMittal announced three new renewable energy projects in India, representing a total nominal capacity of 1 GW (solar and wind). Electricity will be supplied to AM/NS India (Hazira steelworks), ArcelorMittal’s joint venture with Nippon Steel, and combined with the 975 MW of solar and wind capacity already installed in Andhra Pradesh will cover 35% of Hazira’s increased electricity consumption in 2028.
- In December 2025, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), one of India’s largest integrated steel producers, partnered with Primetals Technologies to integrate hydrogen gas injection technology at its Bokaro blast furnace (BF). The company developing technology to use green hydrogen and carbon monoxide to produce DRI, with financing for a demonstration plant coming from the Ministry of Steel.
- The board of Tata Steel approved the start of engineering and regulatory process to set up a 1 mtpa HIsarna plant in Jamshedpur, to produce hot metal from iron ore using coal powder.
- Also in December, Xuan Thien (Vietnam) and Primetals Technologies signed an agreement for two EAF production lines of the future 9.5 mtpa Xuan Thien Nam Dinh green steel complex (7.5 mtpa + 2 mtpa phases), producing heavy plate and hot-rolled coil (HRC). According to initial schedule, Xuan Thien plans to begin production in June 2028 and complete the entire project by June 2030.
Europe
- In January 2026, Kurum International awarded Danieli the contract to build a new MIDA (Micromill Danieli) plant in Elbasan, Albania. This plant will produce 0.7 mtpa of bars and will include a 75-tonne scrap-fed EAF.
- In January 2026, Czech integrated steelworks Nová Hut (former Liberty Ostrava) announced an CZK 150 million ($7.3 million) investment in 2026, which includes preparation for the construction of a 1.5 mtpa EAF. The site’s BFs, steelmaking and coke plants are no longer in operation, while rolling units operate under tolling agreements.
- In January 2026, Iberdrola Germany completed a new solar plant with a capacity of 65 MW in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The project is part of a 15-year power purchase agreement signed between Iberdrola and Salzgitter to supply 900 GWh of power over the period.
- The same month, ArcelorMittal signed a nuclear power production allocation contract with EDF. EDF will supply ArcelorMittal’s production sites in France with low-carbon electricity for 18 years, effective January 1, 2026.
- In November 2025, state-controlled Azerbaijan Metal Company signed a contract Sinosteel Equipment & Engineering Co. for a feasibility study for a 2 mtpa HBI plant in the Shamkir district of Azerbaijan. The HBI plant is expected to be commissioned by mid-2029, with an estimated cost of $700 million.
Middle East and North Africa
- In December 2025, Meranti Green Steel, signed an MoU with the Amnah Energy consortium for green hydrogen supplies for its 2.5 mtpa DRI/HBI project in Al Duqm, Oman. The consortium was awarded a land block in Al Duqm to develop 200,000 tpa production of green hydrogen. The final investment decision for the Duqm project is scheduled for mid-2026, with construction to follow immediately. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned by mid-2029.
- In January 2026, Meranti Green Steel announced that it had secured full offtake agreements for the first phase of its HBI plant in Oman. 1 mtpa will go to Thyssenkrupp Materials Trading, 0.25 mtpa to Interfer Edelstahl & Interfer Austria, with the balance going to Glencore and to Meranti’s steel plant in Rayong, Thailand for green HRC production.
- Also in January, reports indicated that Vale and its partners expect to invest around $5 billion in the first phase of a mega-hub in Al Duqm, Oman. The hub would produce iron ore concentrate and HBI with low embedded CO2 emissions. The land lease agreement with the Port of Duqm has been signed and the final investment decision is planned for 2026, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027.
North and South America
- Hyundai Steel plans to launch a pilot DRI plant at its Dangjin works, South Korea, in 2027 to test hydrogen technology before implementing it at a planned 2.7 mtpa natural gas/EAF facility in Louisiana, USA. The Dangjin plant has been producing hydrogen since 2016.
- In January 2026, it was reported that ArcelorMittal Dofasco postponed transition from BF/BOF to DRI/EAF steelmaking from 2028 to later years and that iron for the future EAF would be produced at the existing natural gas-based DRI plant in Contrecœur, Quebec, instead of building a new 2.5 mtpa hydrogen-ready DRI plant in Dofasco.
Switzerland seeks EU exemption from new steel tariffs
Switzerland has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in Brussels to secure an exemption from the European Union’s planned new steel trade regulations.
Despite the European Parliament’s Trade Committee having formally rejected such a request in recent weeks, Swiss authorities revived their bid for an exemption by holding an urgent meeting with EU representatives on Thursday.
Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced that an extraordinary meeting of the Joint Committee of the EU–Switzerland Free Trade Agreement was convened at Bern’s request. During the meeting, the Swiss side stressed the need to preserve established regional supply chains that are critical to European industry and called for special treatment in steel trade.
Switzerland’s renewed push comes at a time of rising tensions in EU trade policy. On Tuesday, the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA) approved a new steel trade framework to replace the current safeguard measures set to expire in June 2026, with 36 votes in favour, two against and five abstentions. The committee explicitly rejected a proposal to exempt Switzerland from out-of-quota tariffs.
Under the newly adopted framework, duty-free steel imports into the EU will be capped at 18.3 million tonnes per year, representing a 47% reduction compared with 2024 quota levels. Tariffs on out-of-quota imports will be increased from 25% to 50%. Exemptions will be limited to members of the European Economic Area—Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
However, the committee’s strict stance toward Switzerland appears at odds with messages the EU has conveyed to other trading partners. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said earlier this week, following the EU–India free trade agreement, that India would enjoy a “privileged position” in negotiations on access to the EU steel market. India is reportedly seeking a duty-free quota of around 1.6 million tonnes per year.
Despite Switzerland’s intensified diplomatic efforts, experts believe it will be difficult for the EU to reverse course on its new steel policy in the short term. The new measures are expected to establish a tighter trade regime aimed at protecting the European steel industry, while triggering new rounds of negotiations with third countries.
European Commission Vice-President Séjourné: “Made in Europe” priority should be strengthened in public procurement
European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné stated that the “Made in Europe” approach, which envisages giving priority to European companies in public procurement across EU member states, should be strengthened.
European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, who is responsible for the EU’s industrial policy, published an opinion piece supporting the “Made in Europe” initiative, signed by more than 1,000 executives from EU-based companies. The article was published simultaneously in France’s Les Echos, Germany’s Handelsblatt, Spain’s El Mundo, and Italy’s Corriere della Sera.
In his column, Séjourné stressed that European countries should prioritize European companies in public procurement in order to protect their industries. “In our most strategic sectors, we must make a genuine European preference permanent. Without an ambitious, effective, and pragmatic industrial policy, the European economy will become nothing more than a playground for its competitors,” he said.
Pointing to the growing prevalence of tariffs, subsidies, export restrictions, and intellectual property violations in global trade, Séjourné warned that international competition is becoming increasingly unfair and argued that the EU must adopt a more proactive stance.
Recalling that major economies—particularly the United States and China—have similar programs supporting their strategic sectors, Séjourné noted that it is inevitable for the EU to adopt a comparable approach.
Emphasizing that the core principle of the “Made in Europe” strategy is clear, Séjourné stated: “Wherever public money is spent in Europe, it must contribute to European production and employment.”
The European Commission is expected to unveil its proposed “Industrial Accelerator Act” by the end of February, aimed at supporting European industry. The proposal is expected to include provisions introducing a “Made in Europe” requirement in public procurement.
While France is leading the initiative, several EU member states argue that local-content requirements could deter investment, increase costs in public tenders, and weaken the bloc’s global competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Türkiye maintains that factors such as the Customs Union, the existing level of economic integration, and regulatory alignment should be taken into account, and that Türkiye should be considered within the scope of the “Made in Europe” concept.
Source: AA
NLMK DanSteel achieves Silver Medal in sustainability performance
NLMK DanSteel received a Silver Medal from the international sustainability rating agency EcoVadis. With this achievement, the company ranked among the top 15% globally in terms of sustainability performance.
According to the company’s statement, NLMK DanSteel’s overall score increased to 77/100 from 74/100 compared to the previous year. The improvement was mainly driven by progress in the areas of environment, labour and human rights, and sustainable procurement.
It was noted that the transition to the Silver Medal level reflects a period in which sustainability standards across the industry have generally risen. Company management described this development as both a positive indicator and a source of motivation to further advance its sustainability goals.
The statement emphasized that the achievement was the result of strong teamwork, and expressed appreciation to all employees who contributed to the company’s sustainability efforts. NLMK DanSteel also stated that it aims to continue its activities with a focus on continuous improvement and measurable progress in the period ahead.
ArcelorMittal reviews 5.600 EU roles, Luxembourg impact unknown
ArcelorMittal Europe has opened a new review of support functions that a European works council member said could cover 5.600 roles, about 11% of the company’s 48.500-strong European workforce, with Luxembourg exposure still undisclosed.
The European arm of Luxembourg-headquartered ArcelorMittal, one of the world’s largest steel and mining groups, has launched a fresh phase of internal assessment into an efficiency drive covering support functions such as information technology, logistics and maintenance, a review that a member of the European works council claimed could place up to 5.600 roles across 20 European countries within scope.
The council member added the initiative was discussed during an extraordinary meeting held remotely last week and described it as a new phase of analysis into reshaping support functions across the group’s European entities, including potential relocations alongside other restructuring options.
On the basis of ArcelorMittal’s European headcount of 48.500 at the end of 2024, the perimeter under review would equate to about 11% of its European workforce.
Contacted by Paperjam, a representative of ArcelorMittal confirmed the review but did not confirm any numbers. The representative said ArcelorMittal Europe was looking into the possibility of expanding the scope of its project to transform support functions “with the goal of ensuring optimisation and standardisation of activities which are currently fragmented across a large number of sites in Europe”. The representative declined to comment on whether roles in Luxembourg were part of the assessment.
The steelmaker disclosed that the work included the creation of a “business services hub in India” and the expansion of its “business centre of excellence in Poland”. It said the objective was to support a sustainable business model for ArcelorMittal Europe by aligning the company’s performance with other major companies and using global talent, modern processes and advanced IT and AI to deliver “reliable, high-quality service”.
The review comes as European steelmakers face weaker demand in core end-markets such as automotive and construction, alongside intensifying pressure from imports, particularly from Asia and China, where production is sold at significantly lower prices.
According to national statistics bureau Statec, ArcelorMittal had 3.520 employees in Luxembourg on 1 January 2025, making it likely that at least some Luxembourg-based roles could ultimately be affected through relocation or being removed altogether, even if the company has not confirmed any local exposure.
A further meeting is scheduled for 26 February at ArcelorMittal’s Luxembourg headquarters. The company representative told Paperjam that more details would be shared at the appropriate stage but did not provide a timeframe.
ArcelorMittal responds to ADI mismanagement lawsuit with €1.8 bln damage claim
ArcelorMittal has responded to a €7 billion ($8.4 billion) lawsuit from Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI) with a €1.8 billion damage claim, the company said on Thursday January 29.
The claim, filed by ADI’s extraordinary administration on January 12, 2026 with a writ of summons before the Court of Milan, alleges that ArcelorMittal induced ADI directors and local management to engage in mismanagement as part of a unified strategy to run down production, destroy the business and extract profits from Italy, causing damages estimated at approximately €7 billion.
ArcelorMittal categorically denied all these allegations, including claims that it unlawfully influenced management decisions or acted to the detriment of ADI and its holding company, Acciaierie d’Italia Holding SpA (ADIH).
The company said that since 2021 ADIH has been under joint and equal control with Invitalia, which is wholly owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance and was appointed by the Italian government to implement a public-private partnership aimed at relaunching and acquiring Ilva’s business.
ArcelorMittal said it fulfilled all its contractual obligations, invested around €2 billion in the business and did not illicitly influence local management. It added that a significant share of that investment was directed toward implementing the environmental plan required to comply with Italy’s Integrated Environmental Authorization (AIA).
The operating environment deteriorated shortly after the transaction closed, according to the company, due to what it described as adversarial conduct by Invitalia and legislative interventions by the Italian government.
ArcelorMittal added that in June 2025 it initiated international arbitration against Italy, alleging unlawful expropriation and unfair and discriminatory treatment.
“These actions caused serious harm to ArcelorMittal, leading to the loss of its investments and adversely affecting its broader interests in Europe, resulting in an overall damage claim exceeding €1.8 billion,” ArcelorMittal’s statement reads.
ADI representatives declined to comment when contacted by Fastmarkets on Friday January 30.
Background
ArcelorMittal acquired ADI, which was known as Ilva at the time, in 2018 when it took a 94.4% stake.
In 2019, less than a year after ArcelorMittal began leasing the assets, the government removed legal protections that the company said were necessary to implement the environmental plan without criminal liability. ArcelorMittal said this prevented the fulfillment of conditions precedent and led to its withdrawal from the lease agreement.
The withdrawal was later settled through an agreement with Invitalia, which subsequently assumed joint control of ADI.
Since 2021, ArcelorMittal’s share has been reduced to 62%, with Invitalia, the National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, holding the remaining 38%.
The Italian government took over the administration of ADI from ArcelorMittal in February 2024, Fastmarkets reported. ArcelorMittal said the move substantially expropriated its investment.
ADI is the largest steelmaker in Italy, with installed capacity for 8 million tonnes per year of pig iron and 10 million tpy of crude steel. But the steelworks produced just 3 million tonnes of steel in 2023, below the target of 4 million tonnes. In 2024, the company produced less than 2 million tonnes of steel, market sources said.
ADI was officially put up for sale by the Italian government in August 2024.
Multiple groups have expressed interest, with reports highlighting participants such as Baku Steel, Jindal Steel International and others.
European HRC buyers show limited acceptance of higher prices
Hot-rolled coil buyers from Europe are gradually accepting higher prices from local suppliers, but the pace is moderate as customers’ inventories and port stocks are ample, Fastmarkets heard on Friday January 30.
Offers from integrated mills in Northern Europe come at €670-685 ($801-819) per tonne ex-works for April delivery coil with sporadic bookings heard done at the level of €650 per tonne ex-works.
March-delivery HRC was heard to be largely sold out, with only limited availability left at some suppliers. Offers were heard coming at €650 per tonne ex-works.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe was €650.00 ($777.60) per tonne on Friday, down by €5.83 per tonne from €655.83 per tonne on January 29.
The drop in the assessment reflected buyers at a crossroads, with current inventories and port stocks said to be sufficient, rather than indicating a trend reversal.
The index was up by €7.5 per tonne week on week and by €22.5 per tonne month on month.
In Italy, domestic HRC offers were reported varying within the range of €630-650 per tonne ex-works on Friday, with recent bookings said to be done within the range of €630-635 per tonne ex-works.
No major bookings were reported during the day.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Italy was calculated at €638.00 per tonne on Friday, January 30 versus€ 643.33 per tonne on Thursday, reducing by €5.33 day on day.
The index was up by €3.00 per tonne week on week and by €14.88 per tonne month on month.
Becker Group appoints Torsten Gieseke as new CEO
As of 1 February 2026, Becker Stahl-Service GmbH has appointed Torsten Gieseke as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
In his new role, Torsten Gieseke will also join the management boards of the group’s subsidiaries, Becker Aluminium-Service GmbH and Umformtechnik Stendal GmbH, further strengthening strategic alignment across the Becker Group.
Torsten Gieseke succeeds Guido Kerkhoff, who had been serving as interim CEO of the Becker Group in addition to his responsibilities as CEO of Klöckner & Co SE, the parent company of the Becker Group.
With more than 20 years of experience in the steel and automotive sectors, Torsten Gieseke brings extensive industry knowledge and recognised expertise to the role. His appointment marks an important step in ensuring continuity and supporting the group’s future development.
Going forward, the management of the Becker Group will be led by a three-member executive team consisting of Torsten Gieseke (CEO), Joerg Kaib (CFO) and Bernd Guttek (COO).
European longs prices tick up, market resistance remains
The recent wave of price increase announcements for longs products across Europe is translating into modest transaction price hikes. However, buyers are widely sceptical about the scope for further rises under current market conditions.
Market sources across western and southern Europe report that, while demand is present, January has been sluggish, largely because many buyers implemented purchases in December ahead of year-end, Kallanish hears.
To compensate for weak domestic demand, European producers are increasingly targeting export sales within Europe. However, logistics constraints are becoming a growing challenge. “Logistics have become extremely expensive,” one longs mill confirms. Barge transport, a cost-effective option, is being disrupted this month by low water levels in Switzerland, Germany and France following a prolonged lack of rainfall. Vessel availability is also tight and some deliveries are being delayed.
Another mill source notes that shipping material to another country now costs almost twice as much as domestic truck transport. Despite this, export activity remains necessary to support order books and avoid production slowdowns, which would otherwise push up fixed costs at a time of high production cost levels.
According to a large European longs producer, demand is broadly stable and in line with what it describes as the “new normal” for Europe. January is traditionally a slow month and the weakness is seen as seasonal. Construction activity is expected to pick up in the coming weeks, having been further constrained in January by adverse weather conditions in several parts of Europe.
Sources say ArcelorMittal raised prices in January by an average of €25-30/tonne ($29.73-35.67/t) versus December across all long products. This is up by around €50/t compared with the lows recorded in October 2025.
While price increases are being implemented gradually, several mill sources stress that January’s upticks remain insufficient to offset rising costs. Electricity prices continue to climb, scrap values rose sharply in January and logistics costs remain high, all of which are weighing heavily on margins. Producers therefore appear determined to continue pushing for higher prices, arguing that current selling levels are close to production costs.
One producer adds that demand is being supported by some eastern European markets, while Spain is currently showing the strongest consumption in western Europe.
Author: Natalia Capra France
Voestalpine sells Böhler Profile to Massachusetts company
Voestalpine has agreed to divest Böhler Profil, a company in its High Performance Metals division, supplier of special profiles for a variety of industrial applications including industrial knives, Kallanish learns.
The buyer is US company Kadant, based in Webford, Massachusetts, with 3,900 employees in 22 countries worldwide. According to voestalpine, Kadant will retain the unit’s staff working at the production site in Bruckbach, Lower Austria.
The Austrian group is divesting the unit for strategic reasons and in line with the streamlining of the High Performance Metals division portfolio. “Kadant had repeatedly expressed interest in the company,” chief executive Herbert Eibensteiner notes on the occasion of the sale agreement.
In the business year 2024/25, Böhler Profil had a workforce of approximately 150 employees and generated revenue of €51.5 million ($61.6m). Over the past 15 years, voestalpine has invested a total of €23m in the Bruckbach site, for purposes including upgrading automation and digitalisation in profile manufacturing, the group highlights.
The spin-off follows the divestment of another unit of High Performance Metals, Buderus Edelstahl in Wetzlar, Germany, as well as site consolidations outside Austria, and capacity adjustments at voestalpine Böhler Bleche. With these measures, the High Performance Metals division has effectively completed the process of restructuring its portfolio, voestalpine states.
Author: Christian Koehl Germany