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The impact of the European steel industry on the EU economy
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Oxford Economics and EUROFER have just released the Impact of the European Steel Industry on the EU Economy: An updated and extended analysis study. Commissioned by EUROFER, the study broadens and updates the analysis first conducted for the Association in 2017 and published in 2018. The study finds new figures for total employment, now 2.6 million direct, indirect and induced jobs for the sector. The steel industry’s Gross Value Added is now €148 billion overall, with a new tax revenue impact of €60 billion. The tax assessment is an addition to this report over the previous edition. The jobs multiple for the sector is nearly 8x, going down into customer sectors that are also analysed in this report for the first time.
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Brussels, 05 June 2025 – The high level of uncertainty and major disruptions caused by the new U.S. tariffs have dealt a severe blow to recovery expectations in the steel market for 2025. Against the backdrop of broader economic resilience driven by services, industry remains weak, weighing on steel demand and consumption. Recovery is not expected before 2026, and only if positive developments emerge in the global geoeconomic outlook. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, the recession in apparent steel consumption will continue in 2025 (-0.9%) for the fourth consecutive year (-1.1% in 2024), contrary to earlier forecasts of growth (+2.2%). A similar trend is expected for steel-using sectors, with another recession in 2025 (-0.5%, after -3.7% in 2024) instead of a projected recovery (+1.6%). Steel imports remained at historically high levels (27%) throughout 2024.
Second quarter 2025 report. Data up to, and including, fourth quarter 2024
Brussels, 4 June 2025 – With U.S. blanket tariffs now raised to 50%, the only way to avoid the further erosion of the European steel market and another blow to European steelmakers is the swift implementation of the “highly effective trade measure” promised by the European Commission in its Steel and Metals Action Plan. A negotiated solution between the EU and the U.S. is also vital to preserve EU steel exports to the U.S., warns the European Steel Association.
The European Steel Association (EUROFER)
172 Avenue de Cortenbergh
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Email: mail@eurofer.eu
Phone: +32 (0) 2 738 79 20
