Thysenkrupp reduces production of electrical steel
Thyssenkrupp Electric Steel (tkES) intends to reduce and partially stop its production in the fiscal year until September 2026, according to Callanish from thyssenkrupp Steel's parent company.
Starting in mid-December, the plants in Gelsenkirchen (Germany) and Isberg (France) will be completely closed by the end of the year. In addition, starting in January, the Isberg site will operate at only 50% of its total capacity for at least four months. This is happening in response to a significantly increased influx of cheap electrical steel intended for grain production, especially from Asia, the parent countries.
According to tk Steel, the European market of electrical steel focused on grain production is currently under serious pressure due to a sharp increase in import volumes, the prices of which are significantly lower than the average production costs in the EU. Imports have tripled since 2022, and increased by another 50% in 2025. These changes led to a sharp change in the volume of customer orders and, as a result, to a significant underutilization of production facilities in Europe, the company explains.
It notes that the market for electrical steel, focused on grain production, nevertheless remains attractive, and studies predict that global demand will triple by 2050.
"Electrotechnical steel, focused on grain production, is an indispensable element of Europe's energy infrastructure and energy transition," says Marie Yaroni, Executive Director of thyssenkrupp Steel. She stresses that the company is determined to maintain production in Europe. About 1,200 people work at TkES's facilities in Gelsenkirchen and Isberg.
Author: Christian Kel Germany
Kallanish.com