en.Wedoany.com Reported - Germany's steel industry association (Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl) stated that in the first half of 2026, Germany's crude steel production was approximately 18.6 million tons, an increase of about 9% year-on-year. In the first half of 2025, steel production had fallen by nearly 12%, and current output has not yet reached the level of 19.4 million tons recorded in the first half of 2024. The association pointed out that the latest data does not indicate a sustainable trend reversal, as on an annualized basis, total output for 2026 is expected to be around 37 million tons, below the threshold of 40 million tons required to achieve economically viable capacity utilization.

Demand remains weak in key downstream industries for steel manufacturers—construction, mechanical engineering, and the automotive industry. Kerstin Rippel, Managing Director of the German Steel Industry Association, warned that the rise in output should not overshadow the fact that the steel industry is still in a difficult position. The growth primarily reflects a technical rebound, such as steel customers replenishing inventories. The German steel industry has high hopes for new EU tariff rules that took effect in July. Under specific criteria, steel imports are now subject to additional tariffs, which will limit cheap imports from Asia. Rippel noted that this trade protection tool is crucial for the German and European steel industries, ensuring that any future recovery in demand can effectively translate into higher capacity utilization for steel companies in Germany and other EU member states.