Thyssenkrupp to cut production in Germany and France amid sharp rise in EU imports
Thyssenkrupp Electric Steel (tkES), a subsidiary of German steel producer Thyssenkrupp, announced significant production cuts and temporary shutdowns at its plants in Gelsenkirchen (Germany) and Isberg (France), citing a sharp increase in low-price imports, mainly from Asia, which destabilized the grain market in Europe. the electrotechnical steel market (GOES).
Starting in mid-December, both plants will completely stop production by the end of the year, while the Isberg plant will operate at 50 percent capacity for at least four months starting in January 2026. The company warns that about 1,200 jobs at both enterprises are currently under threat.
Serious pressure on the market
According to Thyssenkrupp Electric Steel, the grain-oriented electrical steel market in the EU has reached a critical point:
- Imports have tripled since 2022,
- In 2025, imports increased by another 50%,
- The prices of imported volumes are much lower than the cost of production in the EU.
This has led to a sharp reduction in customer orders and led to a significant underutilization of production capacity at EU plants. tkES says immediate stabilization measures are needed to maintain production, despite long-term demand forecasts that global consumption of grain-oriented electrical steel could triple by 2050.
Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team
Steelorbis.com