According to the report Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2025-2026/Q3 2025 of the Economic Committee of the European Steel Association (EUROFER), in the first quarter of 2025, apparent steel consumption in the EU-27 amounted to 33.8 million tons, an increase of 2.2 percent year-on-year after an increase of 0.5 percent in the last quarter of 2024.
Steel demand has been weak since the second quarter of 2022, when the war in Ukraine caused disruptions, rising energy costs and rising production costs. These challenges, combined with higher interest rates and global economic uncertainty, have pushed the industry into a prolonged downturn. According to EUROFER, despite the quarterly rebound in late 2024 and early 2025, overall consumption remains historically low.
Earlier expectations for a recovery in 2025 have been revised upward. The apparent steel consumption is projected to decrease by 0.2 percent instead of 0.9 percent. This moderate drop will reflect ongoing trade disruptions, especially uncertainty around U.
S. tariffs. On the other hand, apparent steel consumption is projected to eventually recover by 3.1 percent if the industry's outlook improves.
EUROFER still does not expect a significant improvement in steel demand in the EU until the first quarter of 2026, and even then volumes will remain well below pre-pandemic levels. The sector continues to face high uncertainty as future growth depends on economic recovery and stable trade relations.
