Tata Steel UK CEO Rajesh Nair appointed UK Steel chair
Tata Steel UK says its chief executive, Rajesh Nair, has been appointed the new chair of producer association UK Steel, Kallanish learns.
Nair has more than 36 years of experience across the Tata Steel Group and is a board member of Tata Steel UK. He joined the UK steelmaker as chief operating officer in 2021, before becoming ceo in 2023.
He will undertake his role as chair in addition to his existing responsibilities at the steelmaker.
Nair says: “It is an honour to be appointed chair of UK Steel at such a pivotal moment for the industry. This is a period of profound change – with significant challenges, but also real opportunities to strengthen the sector for the long term.”
“I look forward to working with UK Steel members and stakeholders to help secure that future – working closely with Government on its Steel Strategy and addressing structural issues like uncompetitive energy costs and the growing threat of high-emission imports,” he adds.
The steelmaker is currently undergoing a £1.25 billion ($1.67 billion) transformation at its site in Port Talbot, building an electric arc furnace (see Kallanish passim).
UK Steel director general Gareth Stace notes: “The appointment of Rajesh as chair of UK Steel is excellent news for both UK Steel and our industry as a whole. Rajesh will bring a wealth of experience across both the global and UK steel industry to this role. His appointment could not have come at a better time as our industry looks to modernise and grow as Government prepares to publish its Steel Strategy this autumn.”
Carrie Bone UK
Tata Steel UK launches research initiative to develop AI-driven low-carbon auto steel
Tata Steel UK has launched a research initiative named ADAPT-EAF (Accelerating the Development of Automotive and Packaging steel Technology for Electric Arc Furnace production) to create a new generation of high-performance steel products from electric arc furnace (EAF) technology, aimed at revolutionizing automotive body parts and packaging solutions like food cans, a company statement said on Monday, July 14.
ADAPT-EAF brings together Tata Steel UK and University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the University of Warwick, reflecting Tata Steel’s vision of leading green steel innovation in the UK, the statement said.
The announcement comes close on the heels of Tata Steel UK commencing ground breaking for its new EAF at its Port Talbot steel mill.
As the UK steel industry shifts toward EAF processes, ADAPT-EAF will tackle a critical challenge related to controlling residual elements in high-recycled-content steel, which can influence the quality and performance of steels used in automotive and packaging applications, the company said.
The project will develop an AI-powered platform to accurately predict how various scrap materials affect steel quality and processing. This digital tool will be combined with rapid alloy prototyping and testing to generate vital data and design new steel grades optimized for EAF production, it added.
Furthermore, Tata Steel UK and its academic partners will build a comprehensive digital and experimental platform to design innovative, low-CO₂ steel products that can be manufactured in the UK, it said.
EUROMETAL 75th Anniversary: Political will requires political action
This article is part of a series on steel distribution association EUROMETAL’s 75th Anniversary conference 2-3 July, discussing challenges and opportunities for the sector from its policy background; trade protection; the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism; green steel; and the evolving role of European steel distribution.
Distributors attending European steel distribution association EUROMETAL’s 75th anniversary conference last week identified both challenges and opportunities from the sector’s changing regulatory landscape, with many believing distribution would have to adapt its role in the steel supply chain.
Following the United States’ lead, nations worldwide are continuing to pass protectionist measures for their domestic steel industries, leading many – especially more import- dependent distributors – to question the resilience of their position in regional and global supply chains in a new era of steel market isolationism and regionality.
Distributors have certainly suffered under prevalent uncertainties so far this year. Already in what has commonly been termed a ‘crisis,’ the European steel industry has seen changes to its safeguard and anti-dumping framework; tariff offensives from the US on both steel exports and their dependent markets; an uncompetitive demand and consumption landscape; and of course the upcoming definitive period of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its role in securing the decarbonisation strategy of domestic industries.
It is no surprise then that many in the distribution segment lament the concurrence of these different factors, pulled by pressures from the top and bottom of the steel supply chain. That said, while conference attendees painted a negative picture of how the European steel industry reached this point of crisis, many speakers at EUROMETAL’s anniversary were optimistic about a recent change in tone from European political authorities. Representatives from steel producers in particular identified new policymaker recognition of the issues plaguing the steel sector, with a desire to support not only steel producers, but also the distributors facilitating the processing and movement of steel to its consuming industries.
Market participants at the event shared insights into ongoing consultations on lead market generation for green steel, namely low-carbon and “Made in Europe”; labels under the Clean Industrial Deal and upcoming Industrial Accelerator Act; simplification and downstream extension proposals surrounding CBAM, and import monitoring and the proposed long-term replacement to the European steel safeguard system.
Attendees at the conference have been consulting with the European Commission (EC) to ensure that new initiatives respect the real dynamics of the steel industry and trade, but while this new protective “political will” was widely cited by relevant parties, a common theme surrounded doubts on policymakers’ powers to execute pragmatic change, stymied by an abundance of overly technical, defeatist, or naïve arguments from the European civil service.
“I see keen policymakers that are repeatedly subjected to negative arguments from their services,” said Dr Henrik Adam, President of Eurofer. “We have the political will – the question now is: do we have the power to exert real change?”
“After three days with Commission staff I am completely brain-busted, many of them cannot understand the realities of our industry,” agreed Marcus Fix of service center DM Stahl.
“Sometimes I get the impression the European Commission wants to ride a white unicorn on a rainbow,” he continued. “They lack any urgency; we need to be fast but instead we’re stuck in regulatory hell.”
Adam admitted a degree of envy for American political dynamism, though was careful to clarify that he was in support of its style rather than content:
“While I am not a fan of the new way the Americans are conducting their business, the effectiveness of its policies on American reindustrialisation is evident”, said Adam. “The sentiment is important, the point is that we often hear a “no”; from Brussels and its services.
“The US has a “can-do” attitude, but in Europe we are often missing this “will to win”.”
Benjamin Steven Journalist, Steel
EUROMETAL’s 75th Anniversary: Tata’s Adam urges reversal of European de-industrialisation
Tata Steel Netherlands Holding BV executive chairman Henrik Adam emphasised the urgent need for Europe to reverse the ongoing trend of de-industrialisation at EUROMETAL’s 75th Anniversary conference in Luxembourg last week, attended by Kallanish.
Advancing technological innovation is critical to sustaining and revitalising the European industrial base. “In Europe we are surviving against global competition from low-cost subsidised countries … We are not asking for protection, we are asking for a fair playing field,” Adams stated.
He highlighted the severity of the European steel crisis, with 26 million tonnes of steel capacity closing between 2008 and 2023, and the loss of 25% of its steel workforce, with an additional 18,000 job cuts announced in 2024.
To remain competitive, Europe must strengthen trade defences against unfair practices, review and update the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), address high energy costs, and improve scrap availability.
Access to abundant fossil-free electricity is essential. Energy demand in the steel sector, which averaged 75 TWh/year between 2010 and 2020, is forecast to more than double to 165 TWh by 2030 and reach 400 TWh by 2050.
Lowering energy costs, increasing green subsidies, and robust trade protection are critical. Without effective measures, de-industrialisation will accelerate, Adams warned. However, he noted a clear political commitment at the European level to preserve the industry.
Global excess steel capacity is both structural and significant. Europe must prevent “CO2 free riding” through resource shuffling and circumvention, safeguard European steel exports, and avoid the relocation of downstream companies. New steel capacities being added in countries like India and China over the next decade could undermine Europe’s climate efforts, Adam concluded.
Natalia Capra France
Tata Steel: Steel is part of the problem, but also part of the solution
In a recent in-depth interview with McKinsey, T. V. Narendran, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Steel, highlighted the steel sector’s dual role in the global decarbonisation journey.
Acknowledging that steel production contributes around 8% of global CO₂ emissions, Narendran emphasized that no green transition is possible without steel, given its centrality in infrastructure, energy, and mobility.
He detailed Tata Steel’s strategic efforts to reduce emissions across geographies—from transitioning to scrap-based steel in the UK, exploring hydrogen solutions in the Netherlands, to piloting breakthrough technologies like EASyMelt in India. He also stressed the need for supportive policies, internal carbon pricing, and a circular supply chain mindset to accelerate sustainable transformation.
Tata Steel UK signs contracts for pickling line
Tata Steel UK has signed contracts with Clecim and ABB Limited to supply the pickling line for its Port Talbot site in Wales, Kallanish learns.
This further progresses its ongoing £1.25 billion ($1.65 billion) transformation of the site, which envisages a 3 million tonnes/year capacity electric arc furnace commissioning by late 2027/early 2028.
As leader of the consortium, global supplier of steel processing lines and rolling mills Clecim, together with global technology company ABB, will supply essential equipment and expertise needed to power the site’s brand new 1.8m t/y pickling line.
The new line will process hot rolled coil to eliminate oxide scale formed during the steel rolling process, ensuring a clean surface for further processing, improving product quality, and enhancing the bonding of coatings or finishes.
Tata Steel chief executive Rajesh Nair says: “Our new and advanced pickle line will form a major part of our green steelmaking facility at Port Talbot, ensuring we can supply downstream businesses with the high-quality, low CO2 steel products our customers are demanding.”
“This collaboration represents another critical step toward securing a sustainable future for steel production in South Wales – made possible by the expertise and innovation provided by these best-in-class business partners,” he adds.
Clecim will design and supply mechanical and process equipment, while ABB will deliver electrification and automation technology required for the cutting-edge pickle line. With the pre-engineering phase of the project completed, both companies are now moving forward with detailed engineering.
Clecim chief executive Thomas Comte comments: “We are proud to help pioneer this project by combining engineering, sourcing, and mechatronic products manufactured in France, to make this phase of Port Talbot’s transformation a reality.”
“This achievement is a testament to the strong partnership we’ve developed with Tata Steel and ABB over the past several months. Together, we are working in an agile and innovative manner to successfully install the new pickle line,” he concludes.
Eurofer: US tariffs threaten European steel and European sovereignty
The imposition of a 25% blanket tariff by the United States’ administration on all steel imports exacerbates an already dire market environment for the European steel industry and poses a genuine threat to its future. The sector expects the European Union to respond with an effective revision of the steel safeguard measures that will mitigate the impact of the U.S. tariffs and ensure the longevity of the industry in the long-term, says the European Steel Association.
“President Trump’s ‘America First’ policy threatens to be a final nail in the coffin of the European steel industry. If European steel disappears, so too does European automotive, European security and defence, energy infrastructure, transportation and others. What is at stake is European sovereignty”, said Dr. Henrik Adam, President of the European Steel Association (Eurofer). “Under the first Trump administration, we already witnessed the huge impact of Section 232. EU steel exports to the U.S. decreased by over 1 million tonnes, while for every three tonnes of steel deflected from the US market because of Section 232, two tonnes arrived in the EU.
Today, the overall market situation for European steel is much worse than in 2018. These new measures imposed by Trump are more extensive, therefore the impact of the U.S. tariffs is likely to be far greater”, continued Dr. Adam.
Firstly, the Trump administration has removed all product exemptions and Tariff Rate Quotas that the EU had previously negotiated. With EU steel exports to the U.S. already having fallen by 1 million tonnes, the EU now stands to lose at least another 1 million tonnes of steel exports to the US. Moreover, the blanket import tariff also now includes ‘derivative’ steel products, reducing export opportunities for a further 1 million tonnes of EU products.
Secondly, with global excess capacity having reached record levels in 2024 and set to increase again in 2025, the EU market – already saturated with cheap steel imports from Asia, North Africa and the Middle East – will be further flooded as steel intended for the US market will be redirected. 18 million tonnes of steel were exported to the U.S. under preferential regimes and are now at risk of deflection towards the EU market. EU steel production, which lost 9 million tonnes of capacity and 18,000 jobs in 2024 alone, is at even greater risk. There is also the prospect that yet more steel will be deflected to the EU market if additional reciprocal tariffs are imposed by the U.S.
“Simply put, while all other countries – today the U.S. – protect their national steel production, the EU has had the most vulnerable market in the world”, said Dr. Adam. “Our producers already face the highest energy prices while having the highest climate ambition. Meanwhile, they are being undercut by cheaper, more carbon intensive foreign imports”, he added.
In view of the existential threat to European steel caused by the spill-over of global overcapacity, foreign subsidies and dumping, now compounded by the new U.S. tariffs, the EU has committed to revising the current EU steel safeguard regime by 1 April.
“It is crucial that the revised steel EU safeguard measures are robust and effective to respond immediately and decisively to counter further deflection of steel imports flooding the EU market. The time has come”, concluded Dr. Adam.
EU industry cautious over rebound, awaits policy rescue
Big European steel industry names have offered a glimmer of hope for the demand outlook in recent days, but tempered expectations for 2025, Kallanish notes. In any case, the industry’s health will depend heavily on anticipated European Commission measures.
ArcelorMittal said it expects higher apparent demand on-year in 2025 amid low inventory levels, especially in Europe. The group’s expectation of restocking throughout 2024 did not materialise, however. Chief executive Aditya Mittal also cautioned that EU measures to support industry will be critical this year. The European Commission is due to publish its Clean Industrial Deal later in February. A specific action plan for the steel industry is also eagerly being awaited.
European steelmakers’ association Eurofer said the Commission initiatives “will determine the future of the EU steel industry”.
ArcelorMittal’s European operations saw sales and Ebitda drop 5% and 18% respectively on-year in 2024 to $29.95 billion and $1.62 billion, despite a 4% rise in steel shipments to 28.66 million tonnes, driven by flat products.
Eurofer said EU apparent steel demand should recover 2.2% in 2025 but only provided the industrial outlook improves and global tensions ease. This is also down from its forecast in October of a 3.8% rebound this year. The firm steadily revised down its 2024 demand growth projection throughout last year.
Economic uncertainty will continue to take its toll in the coming quarters despite monetary easing by the European Central Bank, it added. Energy prices, weak manufacturing and geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on activity.
US Steel, which owns the major flat steelworks in Kosice, said it expects slightly improved results in Europe in the first quarter, but pressure will remain from challenging pricing and demand conditions.
Tata Steel, which owns the IJmuiden and Port Talbot steelworks, pointed out that despite the European Central Bank reducing interest rates significantly, concerns persist about inflation and energy costs in Europe.
Adam Smith Poland
Tata Steel Nederland reports higher production, deliveries
Tata Steel Netherlands has reported a rise in steel production and deliveries in its third fiscal quarter and nine months of the 2025 fiscal year (FY25), Kallanish notes from its provisional results filing.
Liquid steel production for the Netherlands was at 1.76 million tonnes in the third, December quarter (Q3), up quarter-on-quarter from 1.66mt, and year-on-year from 1.19mt. Delivery volumes saw a small increase to 1.53mt, from 1.5mt the previous quarter, and y-o-y from 1.3mt.
Its nine-month production volumes were at 5.12mt, up 54% from 3.32mt for the same period one year earlier, while deliveries rose to 4.5mt from 3.89mt. Tata says the 16% y-o-y increase is primarily due to the higher production.
Tata Steel notes its Netherlands delivery figures include volumes shipped to Tata’s UK operations of 120,000t.
For Tata Steel UK (TSUK), production and delivery volumes were heavily impacted by the closure of steelmaking at Port Talbot on 30 September, reducing Q3 liquid steel output to zero.
“Following closure of the blast furnaces at the end of 2QFY25, TSUK has successfully reconfigured its supply chain to continue servicing customers via downstream processing of purchased substrate,” the firm says in the filing.
Q3 deliveries stood at 560,000t, down q-o-q from 630,000t and y-o-y from 640,000t.
Nine-month production amounted to 1.07mt, down y-o-y from 2.33mt in the same period of FY24, while deliveries were at 1.87mt, slumping from 2.11mt one year previously, which the company says were adversely impacted by subdued demand dynamics.
TSUK is to construct an electric arc furnace as part of its £1.25 billion investment in the Port Talbot site, £500 million ($626m) of which comes from a grant funding agreement with the UK government.
Carrie Bone UK
Tata Steel UK starts decommissioning of equipment at Port Talbot
Tata Steel UK, a subsidiary of India-based steelmaker Tata Steel Limited, has announced that it has started to dismantle its Port Talbot plant, including the converters and supporting structures, in line with the transitioning of the plant to electric arc furnace-based steel production.
Some of the equipment is being renovated for use in the new production process.
The company is also investing in two new ladle metallurgy furnaces to enhance the quality of finished steel. These furnaces will enable the company to meet the most demanding product specifications and customer requirements, ensuring its competitiveness going forward.
In October last year, the company ordered an electric arc furnace (EAF) and other state-of-the art steelmaking equipment from Italy-based Tenova, a Techint Group company specialized in innovative solutions for the metals and mining industries, for the decarbonization of its Port Talbot plant, as SteelOrbis previously reported.