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Economic and market outlook
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The European Steel Association regularly monitors the economic conditions on the steel market, including apparent and real consumption, imports and exports, production levels and the performance of the main steel-using sectors.
The culmination of this ongoing work are the four quarterly Economic and Market Outlook reports, which contain the most recent available data that is publically disseminable. More information about when these are released can be found in the statistics publication calendar.
Annually, EUROFER also produces a European Steel in Figures guide, collating the most recent full yeat's worth of data. That can be found in the downloads and links block below.
Brussels, 02 December 2025 – Unchanged negative conditions – U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions, economic and geopolitical tensions, protracted weak demand and still high energy prices – continue to weigh on the European steel market. EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook confirms for 2025 another recession in both apparent steel consumption (-0.2%, unchanged) and steel-using sectors (-0.5%, revised from -0.7%). A potential recovery is expected only in 2026 for the Steel Weighted Industrial Production index (SWIP) (+1.8%, stable) and for apparent steel consumption (+3%, slightly revised from +3.1%) – although consumption volumes would still remain well below pre-pandemic levels. Steel imports retained historically high shares (27%), while exports plummeted (-9%) in the first eight months of 2025.
Fourth quarter 2025 report. Data up to, and including, second quarter 2025
Third quarter 2025 report. Data up to, and including, first quarter 2025
The European Steel Association (EUROFER)
172 Avenue de Cortenbergh
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Email: mail@eurofer.eu
Phone: +32 (0) 2 738 79 20
