German steel production increased significantly in the first half of 2026. The first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, Kallanish reports, citing the national steel federation WV Stahl.
The volume of production in the first half of the year amounted to 18.6 million tons, which is about 9% higher than the level of the previous year. However, so far there are no signs of a steady improvement in the situation, the federation warns. If we extrapolate the data for the whole year, the volume of steel production will be about 37 million tons, which will remain below the mark of 40 million tons required for economically sound use of production facilities.
An even more serious factor is the exceptionally low level of steel demand in Germany, the federation notes. The main consumer sectors – construction, mechanical engineering, and the automotive industry – have shown only weak growth this year.
"Production numbers are growing, but a genuine recovery will only begin when real demand for steel recovers," says Kerstin Maria Rippel, managing director of WV Stahl. "The increase is primarily a reflection of technical recovery, such as restocking in warehouses."
Public procurement is a key lever in this regard," the federation says. "Anyone who invests billions of taxpayer dollars should not focus solely on the cheapest supplier from the Far East," Rippel says. Brussels and Berlin should develop a law on public procurement in such a way that it takes into account the creation of added value in the local industrial market.
"The mandatory criterion of "Made in the EU" is of central importance here," adds Rippel.
The growth in steel production at German plants in the first half of the year is more noticeable at oxygen plants, which increased steel production by 11.5% to 12.8 million tons, while EDP production increased by only 3.5% to 5.9 million tons. This discrepancy leveled off by June, when both routes showed an annual increase of about 9%.
Author: Christian Kehl, Germany