Germany-based steelmaker Thyssenkrupp Steel has announced that its subsidiary Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel has extended production cuts at its Isbergues plant in France, citing continued pressure from rising low-priced imports into the European market.
The decision follows earlier measures that saw the site operating at reduced capacity since early 2026, amid weak demand and increasing import competition.
Production to be further reduced amid import pressure
The Isbergues facility, which produces grain-oriented electrical steel used in energy infrastructure, has been operating at around 50 percent capacity since January 2026, as SteelOrbis previously reported. The site will now be completely closed from June to September.
Thyssenkrupp stated that the European market for grain-oriented electrical steel remains under severe pressure from a surge in low-priced imports, particularly from Asia.
Imports of this material have increased significantly in recent years, leading to:
- declining order volumes,
- underutilization of production capacity,
- increased pressure on European producers.
The company emphasized that maintaining production capacity in Europe is important for the energy transition and infrastructure development. The ongoing production cuts have put approximately 1,200 jobs at risk across Thyssenkrupp’s electrical steel operations in Europe.
Thyssenkrupp has called for faster and more effective trade measures at EU level to address import pressure and restore fair competition.