Starting in mid-December, both plants will completely shut down production by the end of the year, while the Isberges plant will operate at only 50 percent capacity for at least four months starting in January 2026. The company warns that about 1,200 jobs at both facilities are currently at risk.
Strong pressure on the market
According to Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel, the market for grain-oriented electrical steel in the EU has reached a critical point.:
- Imports have tripled since 2022,
- Imports increased by another 50 percent in 2025,
- Import volumes are estimated to be much lower than the cost of production in the EU.
This has caused a sharp decline in customer orders and led to significant underutilization of capacity at EU plants. tkES says immediate stabilization measures are needed to keep operations running, despite long-term demand forecasts showing that global consumption of grain-oriented electrical steel could triple by 2050.
