Publications » Brochures, booklets or fact-sheets » European Steel in Figures 2023
European Steel in Figures 2023
Downloads and links
Recent updates
European Steel in Figures 2023 is the fifteenth edition of the European Steel Association’s (EUROFER) statistical guide, which covers data up to 2022.
It is the second edition that takes fully into account the departure of the United Kingdom from the EU and its internal market. All aggregated data for the EU refer exclusively to EU27, and historical datasets have been adapted accordingly.
The numbers presented in the 2023 edition identify the main trends of the past year through data, and reflect the disruptions due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the consequences of the energy crises, record inflation and a slump in steel demand while imports remained at historical high levels. The through of the cycle reached in the last quarter of the past year was partially offset by the positive performance recorded at the beginning of 2022.
We hope that our statistics will be of use for those working within and with the steel industry. We also hope that they can help guiding policymakers both at EU and national level in making the right choices when it comes to political decisions impacting the industry, such as climate, energy and trade policies.
We wish you a fruitful utilisation of European Steel in Figures 2023.
Download this publication or visit associated links
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.
Second quarter 2024 report. Data up to, and including, fourth quarter 2023
Brussels, 22 March 2024 – The future of a strong and resilient EU can only be forged with steel made in Europe. Europe-made low-carbon steel has a strategic role as it enables a net-zero economy, but today it faces strong headwinds from high energy prices, unfair competition, global overcapacity and growing unilateral carbon costs. The year 2023 has recorded the lowest European crude steel production levels ever, with a number of idled plants and dire impact on workers. Ensuring the enabling conditions for the short-term viability and the decarbonisation of the steel sector urgently needs to be at the top of the EU agenda. This is the message delivered by the European Steel Association together with a number of high-level representatives of the sector on the occasion of the Clean Transition Dialogue on Steel in the presence of the Executive Vice Presidents of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič and Margrethe Vestager.