On 27–28 April 2026, the Steel Net Forum Iberia brought together around 200 steel industry leaders in Santander, confirming the growing relevance of this joint initiative organised by UAHE and EUROMETAL.
The event gathered a broad cross-section of the steel value chain, including producers, distributors, traders and processors, for two days of high-level discussions on the key challenges shaping the sector in Europe and beyond.
In his closing remarks, Manuel Nobre, President of Açomefer, highlighted the continued growth of the Steel Net Forum as a clear reflection of the need for stronger collaboration across the industry. He emphasised that such initiatives are essential to foster dialogue, share insights and collectively address the increasing complexity of the steel market.
Throughout the forum, participants engaged in an intensive and diverse programme that provided a comprehensive overview of current market dynamics. While the discussions offered valuable insights, they also confirmed the high level of concern across the sector, driven by rapid economic, regulatory and geopolitical changes.
A key focus of the event was the ongoing EUROMETAL Call to Action, which continues to gain strong momentum across Europe. Participants were encouraged to actively support and promote the initiative, reflecting the urgent need to safeguard the entire European steel value chain.
The evolving implementation of CBAM and new safeguard measures were also at the centre of discussions. These instruments represent major challenges for the industry, requiring companies to remain vigilant, adaptable and increasingly agile in a fast-changing regulatory environment.
More broadly, the forum addressed the outlook for the European economy, with particular attention to the importance of strengthening industrial competitiveness through initiatives such as “Made in Europe” and future investments in infrastructure, energy, defence and the automotive sector.
Participants also benefited from a keynote intervention by Juan Rodríguez Garat, who provided a compelling analysis of the current geopolitical landscape. His perspective highlighted the increasing unpredictability of global affairs and the growing polarisation shaping international trade and industrial policy.
Market data presentations offered further insight into global and Iberian steel trends, particularly the evolution of imports and the impact of CBAM. A central concern remains the growing share of steel-containing downstream products entering the European market, raising questions about the effectiveness of current trade defence instruments if such products remain outside their scope.
The forum concluded with a roundtable discussion bringing together representatives from across the steel value chain. The debate underscored the importance of fostering complementarity between producers and distributors, rather than rivalry, and highlighted the need for clearer roles, greater differentiation and stronger value-added strategies in an increasingly competitive market.
Looking ahead, participants confirmed their commitment to continuing this dialogue, with the next Steel Net Forum Iberia already announced for 2027 in Cascais.
The strong engagement in Santander sends a clear message: in a period of profound transformation, cooperation across the entire steel value chain is more essential than ever to ensure the resilience and competitiveness of the European steel industry.
