The German Steel Federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (WV Stahl) has discussed the issues facing the domestic steel industry, while announcing the operational results for December and the full year of 2024.
Accordingly, WV Stahl stated that, in 2024, Germany’s crude steel production remained below the 40 million mt threshold for the third year in a row, due to several factors. Demand in the domestic steel industry remains extremely weak. Kerstin Maria Rippel, general manager of WV Stahl, said that persistently low production levels and a weak economy are the warning bells. She pointed out that a sharp increase in low-cost steel imports and high energy prices are threatening the very existence of domestic steelmakers and that the government needs to take action such as the reintroduction of the network fee subsidies amounting to €5.5 billion in the first 100 days of the new year.
On the other hand, Dr. Martin Theuringer, managing director and chief economist at VW Stahl, stated that there are no signs of any significant economic improvement for 2025. “Investment demand in Germany remains weak. In addition, there are significant foreign trade risks, for example with regard to trade policy in the US or the economic situation in China. Last year, cheap Chinese imports further exacerbated the already difficult situation. In order for steel demand and production in Germany to pick up again, new impulses are urgently needed in various fields, especially in strengthening investment conditions,” Mr. Theuringer commented.
Looking at the operational results, in December last year Germany’s crude steel output increased by 4.1 percent year on year to 2.74 million mt. In 2024, crude steel production in the country went up by 5.2 percent year on year to 37.23 million mt.
In the given month, Germany’s pig iron output amounted to 2.05 million mt, up by 5.4 percent, while in the full year it increased by 2.9 percent to 24.33 million mt, both on year-on-year basis.
In December, the country’s hot rolled steel output fell by 7.5 percent to 2.09 million mt, while rising by three percent to 31.61 million mt in 2024, both year on year.
