The outlook for the European steel market in 2024 continues to lose momentum amidst persisting challenging conditions. Downside factors such as worsening geopolitical tensions, coupled with growing economic uncertainty, energy prices, inflation, interest rates have further impacted demand prospects. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, these challenges have exacerbated the negative effects on apparent steel consumption, resulting in a more severe downturn in 2023 than previously projected (-9%, instead of -6.3%) and weaker growth in 2024 (+3.2%, instead of +5.6%). Output in steel-using sectors, despite showing more resilience than expected in the past year (+1.1%), is now set to decline (-1%). Imports are once again on the rise (+11% in the last quarter of 2023), capturing a staggering 27% market share throughout 2023.

“These figures underscore the urgent need for action if we want to ensure a resilient future for the European steel industry and the interconnected clean tech manufacturing value chains, from wind to electric vehicles. From our Stronger with European Steel Manifesto 2024-2029 to the Antwerp Declaration, the message is clear: we need a robust business case in Europe for a successful transition, with a set of enabling conditions under the umbrella of an effective EU industrial policy ranging from competitive clean energy, robust trade measures ensuring an international level playing field, to funding support and lead markets for green products”, said Axel Eggert, Director General of the European Steel Association (EUROFER), following the publication of the Economic Report Q2 2024.

EU steel market overview

In the fourth quarter of 2023, apparent steel consumption – despite a statistical increase (+2.8%) due to the comparison with the very low levels of one year earlier – stood at 29.9 million tonnes. This marks the fourth-lowest volume recorded since the pandemic. Moderate quarterly improvements are expected to continue throughout 2024, yet resulting in volumes still below pre-pandemic levels. The overall evolution of steel demand remains subject to very high uncertainty. Following 2023’s more pronounced contraction (-9%), apparent steel consumption is projected to recover at a lower rate than previously estimated (+3.2%) in 2024.

Similarly, domestic deliveries grew (+1.3%) in the last quarter of the year, but they overall fell (-7.9%) in 2023. Imports also increased again (+11%) in the fourth quarter, while their share out of apparent consumption has remained considerably high (27%) throughout 2023.

EU steel-using sectors

In the same period, steel-using sectors’ output showed stronger-than-expected resilience (+1.1% in 2023, revised from +0.7%), whilst continuing to slow down (+0.2%) in the fourth quarter. This resulted from a continued downturn in the construction, mechanical engineering, domestic appliances and metalware sectors, only partly compensated by ongoing growth in automotive.

Steel-using sectors’ output is projected to experience a recession in 2024 (-1%), notably due to the persisting recessionary trend in the construction sector (which accounts for 35% of steel consumption in the EU), ongoing geopolitical tensions, and the lagged impact of high interest rates on the manufacturing sector. Growth is expected to moderately pick up (+2%) only in 2025.