Tata Steel Nederland joins LESS
Tata Steel Nederland has become a full member of the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), the independent non-profit organisation that promotes the transition of the steel industry to climate neutrality.
LESS, established one year ago, promotes the development of low emission steel standardisation and the associated labelling system. For Tata Steel, the membership strengthens its position as a leader in the European steel industry in the field of low-emission steel production, the company tells Kallanish.
This development brings LESS to a new level of representation, with almost one third of European steel production now participating in the association, the organisation says.
Tata Steel Nederland chief executive Hansvan den Berg underlines that the company supports the objectives of LESS and the development of independent standards. “This standardisation helps customers, policymakers, and the rest of the value chain to build confidence in sustainable steel products,” he notes.
The certifiable standard for low-CO₂ steel provided by LESS allows consumers and markets to determine the contribution a product makes to the sustainability transition, he adds.
Christian Koehl Germany
Weak EU tube market may see modest recovery
Long-term demand for large welded tubes – particularly from the oil and gas sector – is unlikely to rebound significantly, as the EU continues its shift toward LNG imports, reducing reliance on pipeline gas, says Eurofer.
This transition, combined with subdued global oil demand and a weak economic outlook, has delayed or stalled new pipeline projects, the association says in a report seen by Kallanish.
In parallel, tube demand from the construction sector is expected to soften further, offering limited support to overall output growth.
The automotive and engineering sectors are forecast to provide relatively stronger, more stable demand.
Overall, only a modest recovery is anticipated in EU steel tube sector activity in 2025 (+0.9%) and 2026 (+1%), though structural headwinds persist.
In 2023, EU steel tube output fell by 1.5%, marking the start of a recession that deepened in 2024 with a sharper 3.2% decline. Output contracted for a fourth consecutive quarter in Q4 2024 (-2.8%).
The steel tube sector has been under pressure since the energy shock of summer 2022. Despite falling energy and gas prices, lingering uncertainty has undermined investment, particularly in pipeline infrastructure.
The recovery that began post-pandemic in 2021 was abruptly disrupted in late 2022 by the war in Ukraine and ongoing supply chain disruptions – conditions that continue to weigh on the sector.
Elina Virchenko Bulgaria
EU car production declines further, 2026 uncertain: Eurofer
The EU automotive industry, which consumes around 20% of European steel, will continue to reduce production this year, according to the European Steel Association – Eurofer.
Output will decline by 2.6% on-year in 2025, despite previous growth expectations, Kallanish notes. This would make 2025 the second year of decline in a row, after 2024 saw EU car production drop 9.7%.
Continued supply chain issues causing order delays, war-related disruptions, low consumer confidence and squeezed incomes due to persistent inflation and economic uncertainty have hampered activity. Nevertheless, there was a consistent improvement in EU car demand throughout 2023 and most of 2024, Eurofer notes.
“As a result, last year, new passenger car registrations rose slightly (+0.8%), reaching around 10.6 million units – still approximately 2.4 million units below pre-pandemic levels (13 million units in 2019),” the association says.
Spain continued to show positive market conditions (+7.1%). In contrast, declines were observed in France (-3.2%), Germany (-1%), and Italy (-0.5%).
According to the association, after a short-term recovery against the background of a low base of the past years, auto production has gone down again in 2025 due to a number of factors. The key ones are weak consumer demand, high inflation, falling real incomes and uncertainty around electric vehicles (EVs) and future environmental standards.
“The sector is particularly negatively affected by instability in foreign trade: new tariffs on European car imports announced by the US are creating additional pressure on the industry,” Eurofer observes. “In addition, the EU market is facing increasing pressure from Chinese EV manufacturers, while European companies’ own investments in this segment are being held back by a lack of charging infrastructure and regulatory uncertainty.”
A full recovery in global trade and external demand from major markets – particularly the US and China – now appears to be unlikely, given escalating global trade tensions, especially in light of US tariffs, the association adds.
A recovery in automotive sector activity – by 1.9% – is possible in 2026 but production volumes will remain far from 2019 levels. A return to stable growth is only possible if the macroeconomic situation improves, consumer confidence rises and trade tensions ease, Eurofer concludes.
Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria
Steelmakers cannot bear decarbonisation cost alone: ArcelorMittal Poland
ArcelorMittal Poland (AMP) says it recognises the need to decarbonise but, amid the high costs of transitioning to new technologies and pressure from low-priced steel imports, European steelmakers cannot bear the costs of this process alone.
The steelmaker was reported earlier this week to be in talks with the Polish government over PLN 1 billion ($268.5 million) in state aid for the modernisation of a blast furnace at the Dabrowa Gornicza steelworks.
The firm did not comment on the sum of state aid being discussed or what work exactly will be done on its production units. However, it said previously it plans to transition the plant away from the blast furnace production route to EAF steelmaking in stages, with long products the first to be produced via EAF.
Decarbonisation “means building new installations and implementing new steelmaking technologies … in a challenging market: the European steel sector already has to bear costs that our competitors in third countries do not,” AMP tells Kallanish. “For example, Europe has the world’s highest energy costs, and the EU ETS – Emissions Trading System – operates only in Europe.”
“This market environment translates into a rapid increase of low-priced steel imports into Europe. Imports from outside the EU, where production costs are significantly lower, already satisfy almost 30% of apparent steel consumption in Europe,” it continues. “Against this backdrop, no steel producer can bear the costs of the transition to low carbon-emissions steelmaking alone.”
The firm is also calling for the reduction of energy costs and effective mechanisms to prevent carbon leakage. It has urged the European Commission to implement quickly the measures outlined in the Steel and Metals Action Plan.
Were AMP to receive state aid for decarbonising its production process, it would be the first steelmaker in Poland to do so. The country’s other producers are all electric arc furnace-based. One of them, Huta Czestochowa, is in the process of being acquired by Poland’s defence ministry. The country is working on a steel industry strategy.
AMP produced 3.8 million tonnes of crude steel in 2024, up from 3.1mt in 2023, but down from 4.8mt in 2019, pre-Covid.
Adam Smith Poland
Italian government reveals Piombino coil mill programme agreement
Metinvest Adria, the entity managing the new Metinvest-Danieli Piombino flat steel mill in Piombino, has achieved a technical consensus on the programme agreement with Italian authorities, Kallanish learns from the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMT).
A meeting was held in Piombino this week, involving Metinvest Adria, MIMT, the Tuscany region, the city council, the unions, and the port authority, to present the details of the agreement to the unions. MIMT indicates the signing will occur once the unions reach consensus on all terms.
However, a union source claims there are no updates in the programme agreement regarding JSW and rail mill modernisation. He expresses concerns regarding the future employment of the 1,300 workers at Jindal Steel Italy. Another meeting with unions concerning the entire Piombino hub is scheduled for 19 June. The finalisation of the programme agreement is set to occur on 10 July in Rome.
The document consists of 12 articles. It encompasses several essential elements, including the industrial plan, land and port area concessions, future environmental initiatives, energy procurement strategies, state support, and the prospective management of the company, while also acknowledging the project’s public interest.
The agreement indicates the mill is projected to produce approximately 2.7 million tonnes/year of coils, with a total investment amounting to €2.5 billion ($2.8 billion). This encompasses €324 million in state subsidies managed by state financial entity Invitalia.
“We have created a text that is innovative compared to previous agreements by inserting concrete guarantees for Piombino, its citizens and its workers … This project is a concrete act of ‘industrial policy’ that looks to the future of the territory and the country, bringing together public and private interests in an open discussion with the social partners,” the Tuscany region and Piombino city council are quoted as saying jointly by unions.
Natalia Capra France
Assofermet: Italian steel market remains uncertain in May amid growing concerns
The Italian steel market remained disoriented during the month of May, generally marked by a crisis from which it is struggling to recover. Weakness was observed in all steel sectors, from scrap to finished products, according to the monthly market report published by Assofermet Acciai, the steel division of Assofermet, i.e., the association representing Italian distributors of scrap, raw materials, and steel products.
More precisely, the flat carbon steel products segment experienced a sluggish May, with negative sales volumes and a climate of distrust that had already emerged at the beginning of the month. Strong uncertainties and fears were growing among operators, given by ongoing trade and political tensions as well as the economic crisis that China is going through, bringing Far East markets with it. The weakening of sales volumes, and consequently prices, is also due to the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) coming into effect in Europe in 2026, which will impose significant cost increases for steel imports from non-EU countries.
On top of this, the European Union’s trade barriers will limit imports, as the note reports, and some steel grades that are available only through imports might become unavailable in Europe.
Demand weakness was also highlighted in the stainless steel flats segment, in the wake of a downward April. The factors influencing this sector are those described, which highlight the lack of “a protectionist policy to defend the entire steel supply chain”, Assofermet pointed out. This climate of uncertainty has been reflected in prices, the drop in which is thinning the margins of distributors who do not hide their concerns.
As for warehouses, sales declined in almost all product categories in May, with the exception of some niche products. Both longs and flats – although the latter were more stable than the former – showed contractions, while tubular prices recovered slightly.
Finally, uncertainty also affected the tin plate segment, which was characterized by a substantial expectation for the beginning of July, “when the impact on the market of customs clearance of the significant volumes of material imported from Turkey and India, currently lying in port terminals, will be clearer,” the note reports. It is also worth mentioning that there was an increase in the supply of European material, which is unusual at this delicate time.
Marcegaglia invests €278 million in Ravenna, logistics, decarbonization and innovation at core of new industrial plan
The Italy-headquartered Marcegaglia Group, one of Europe’s leading players in the processing of carbon and stainless steel – with 36 plants worldwide and a broad portfolio spanning welded tubes, strips, coils, and flat products – has announced a major revitalization plan for its production site in Ravenna.
As part of a development contract submitted to Invitalia and Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, the group will invest €278 million in the Romagna-based facility, complemented by over €20 million earmarked for research and development projects. This initiative represents Marcegaglia’s most significant industrial project currently underway in Italy, reaffirming the central role of the Ravenna plant within the group’s production and logistics network.
The plan, worth a total of €364 million, focuses on the digitalization and automation of logistics operations, the implementation of circular economy processes, the use of renewable energy sources, and the development of green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. The project is fully aligned with the “Pact for Labor and Climate” of the Emilia-Romagna Region, which has expressed institutional support for the initiative.
As previously reported by SteelOrbis, Marcegaglia’s commitment to decarbonizing the Ravenna site is part of a broader strategic framework, which also includes support from the European Investment Bank (EIB). In December 2024, the EIB approved a €100 million loan as part of a €170 million plan targeting innovation, digitalization, and sustainability across the group’s facilities in Ravenna, Gazoldo degli Ippoliti, and San Giorgio di Nogaro.
Further demonstrating its integrated European vision, Marcegaglia is also advancing a €750 million investment in its French site in Fos-sur-Mer, where it is upgrading an electric arc furnace (EAF) facility and creating 380 new jobs. The objective is to transform the plant into a European hub for green steel production.
As SteelOrbis previously highlighted, the group’s expansion is part of an industrial strategy focused on vertical integration of the steel supply chain, international market growth, and ecological transition across the entire production cycle.
“Despite a period of great uncertainty, we have decided to carry out a substantial investment plan across three strategic sites – Mantua, Udine, and Ravenna,” said Antonio and Emma Marcegaglia, reaffirming the pivotal role of the Ravenna hub, described as “the group’s largest production site and main logistics platform.”
The new industrial plan further consolidates Marcegaglia’s position as a key player in the European steel sector, committed to an industrial path that combines competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability.
EUROFER: EU’s finished steel imports decrease in Q1
According to the Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2025-2026/Q2 2025 Report from the Economic Committee of the European Steel Association (EUROFER), total steel imports into the EU, including semis, decreased by nine percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. During the same quarter, the EU’s imports of flat steel fell by four percent year on year, while imports of long steel rose by seven percent and imports of finished steel products moved down by one percent, both on year-on-year basis.
In the first quarter, Turkey, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Ukraine and India were the main countries of origin for finished steel imports into the EU. The first five countries accounted for 87 percent of total EU finished steel imports in the first three months. Turkey became the leading exporting country to the EU, with a share of 16.4 percent, followed by South Korea with 13.5 percent, Vietnam with ten percent, Taiwan with 8.8 percent, and China with 8.3 percent.
In the January-March period, imports of finished products from China rose significantly by 42 percent, while imports from South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam went up by 28 percent, 20 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Imports from India, Japan and Taiwan, on the other hand, decreased by 56 percent, 39 percent and three percent respectively.
According to the EUROFER report, import shares reached 27 percent of apparent consumption and the trade deficit with third countries widened throughout 2024.
Hot-rolled coil prices in Europe fall further amid sluggish demand
Fastmarkets’ calculation of the daily steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Northern Europe was €600.83 ($685.99) per tonne on Tuesday, down from €606.38 per tonne on Monday June 9.
Mills were heard targeting to achieve deals above €600 per tonne ex-works, with some suppliers reporting sales at this price level. This compares with €610 per tonne ex-works heard at the end of last week.
But, considering the high volume of available material for sale and hand-to-mouth buying, some sources expect the market to drop further.
A similar trend was seen in the Italian market.
Fastmarkets’ daily steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Italy was calculated at €585 per tonne on Tuesday, down from €587.92 per tonne on Monday.
“Consumption is very fragmented at the moment; we observe a lack of restocking activity, while buyers’ stocks are higher than usual,” a buy-side source said.
Offers were heard in the range of €580-590 per tonne ex-works, with some “bold” bids heard as low as €550 per tonne ex-works.
Cheap import offers added to the bearish mood in the European domestic market.
Indonesian coils were available at €490-500 per tonne CFR Italy. Turkish material was offered at €520-540 per tonne duty paid, and Indian HRC was heard at €530-540 per tonne CFR.
Published by: Vlada Novokreshchenova
Italian government vows to continue ADI production support
Negotiations over distressed steelmaker Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI)’s sale remain ongoing, while the Italian government has confirmed its financial backing for the producer through a new decree ensuring the continuation of production.
The Taranto steelworks was damaged in May by a fire that stopped blast furnace no.1 from producing.
Union sources present at a meeting with government officials this week in Rome indicate that negotiations with Baku Steel will advance solely upon the execution of a programme agreement. This must define the responsibilities and financial contributions of the Italian authorities. The talks are said to be focusing on securing the necessary environmental authorisations for production and for the deployment of a floating storage regasification vessel off the coast of Taranto, which Baku plans to install.
“We have had no reassurance about the future and no guarantee about production continuity. The tender is at a standstill, there is no AIA [integrated environmental authorisation – Autorizzazione Integrata Ambientale], there is not a single guarantee but an idea of an uncertain programme agreement,” says Uilm union secretary Rocco Palombella in a note seen by Kallanish.
Insiders indicate significant scepticism surrounding the likelihood of a successful sale to Baku. This stems from multiple uncertainties related to the programme agreement, environmental authorisations, and the government’s financial involvement in the new entity.
The Azerbaijan consortium, which includes Baku Steel and Azerbaijan Investment Company, reportedly presented an industrial strategy along with terms that are deemed unacceptable by multiple stakeholders. The valuation of ADI’s assets is approximately €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion), with an additional €4 billion investment required. The consortium is reportedly requesting the government allocate more than €5 billion to ADI, encompassing tax credits, government-backed loans, and public investment.
The recent fire incident at blast furnace no.1 at Taranto has led to the unit’s seizure by the public prosecutor’s office in Taranto. This has prevented essential maintenance intervention required to protect the equipment. The absence of prompt intervention has jeopardised the BF, which is unlikely to be operational again before the end of the year.
Following the fire in May, the Taranto site is operating with a single blast furnace, no.4. The management has escalated the number of layoffs at Taranto to an estimated 4,000 employees (see Kallanish passim).
Natalia Capra France
