According to the report of the Economic Committee of the European Steel Association (EUROFER) "Review of the economy and the steel market for 2025-2026/Q4 2025", in the second quarter of 2025, apparent steel consumption in the EU-27 amounted to 34.3 million tons, which is 1.8 percent less than in the previous year, after an increase of 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025.
EUROFER reported that steel-using sectors in the EU continued to weaken in the second quarter of 2025, with the steel-weighted industrial production Index (SWIP) falling for the sixth consecutive period. The index declined 2.9 percent after falling 3.2 percent in the previous quarter. The association noted that the growing uncertainty caused by recent U.
S. tariff measures is expected to push the EU into a new, albeit milder, recession in 2025, with industrial activity projected to contract by 1.5 percent instead of the previously projected 0.7 percent. A moderate recovery of about 1.8 percent is expected in 2026.
According to EUROFER, apparent steel consumption in the EU is expected to finally begin to recover in 2026, increasing by about three percent, slightly below the previous estimate of 3.1 percent. However, this forecast depends on an improvement in industrial conditions and a decrease in global geopolitical tensions, factors that remain highly uncertain. Overall, EUROFER stressed that steel demand continues to be under significant pressure from unpredictable global conditions.
