The challenges facing European steelmakers and automakers will raise the stakes in negotiations on annual steel contracts between the two sectors in the coming months, according to a new podcast by MEPs.
The latest issue of the MEPs podcast "Talking about steel". It provides an expert review of the factors affecting the profitability and sustainability of European automakers, from car imports from China to cyber attacks. He then draws on the latest research by MEPs and historical data to gain insight into the pricing direction of automotive steel production contracts.
David Bailey, Professor of business Economics at the University of Birmingham Business School, and Felipe Munoz, global automotive analyst at Jato Dynamics, join Tom Sharp, Editor-in-Chief of the MEP magazine, to talk about the current state of the European automotive sector. MEPs Stewart Gray, head of the study, shared a view on the upcoming contract price negotiations in the steel industry and their likely outcomes.
"Last year we saw annual steel negotiations with steelmakers entering the New Year, following lower steel prices and subdued demand in both the automotive and industrial sectors, increased companies' focus on profits," Gray said.
"As difficult trading conditions continue, this year is likely to see a similar scenario."
Gray added: "I will be attending the upcoming meetings with my MPs colleague, Adam Crooks, where we expect a lot of negotiations to progress, but with the current uncertainty of CBAM and EU trade protection measures, we do not expect these conversations to come clean."
Meanwhile, the new European automotive-themed conversation episodes explored in the deputies are:
- reducing car demand and the sustainability of the European automotive industry
- Are tariffs the answer to this question? The growing share of Chinese-made cars in the market
- The recent JLR cyberattack and its impact on the automotive supply chain
- What is the most likely outcome of the negotiations on the automotive steel production contract for 2026?
"Speaking of Steel" is available on all major podcast platforms. Click on one of the links below to access the latest episode right now.
YouTube
Spotify
The automotive sector consumes more than 17% of European steel production. However, speaking in a new podcast of MEPs on automotive topics, Professors David Bailey and Felipe Munoz agreed that Europe needs a reliable economic plan that will make it sustainable. They also suggested that automakers
