The EU steel industry consumed 132.4 million tons of steel in 2023, a slight increase despite widespread recession fears. This report details the sector's resilience, its ongoing green transition, and the complex trade flows that define the European market.
Key Takeaways
- EU apparent steel consumption in 2023 was 132.4 million tons, up 1.2% from 2022 despite recession fears
- EU employment in steel industry was 328,000 direct jobs in 2022, down 2% from 2021
- EU steel CO2 emissions totaled 104 million tons in 2022, 7% of industrial emissions
- In 2022, the European Union produced 136.3 million metric tons of crude steel, marking a 4.7% decrease from 2021
- EU steel exports to non-EU countries reached 37.2 million tons in 2023, up 2.5% from 2022
EU steel industry output rebounded as demand strengthened and production stabilized during the latest period.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption22 stats
01
EU apparent steel consumption in 2023 was 132.4 million tons, up 1.2% from 2022 despite recession fears
02
Germany's steel use in construction sector reached 18.5 million tons in 2022
03
Italy's automotive steel consumption was 12.1 million tons in 2023, down 5% due to EV transition
04
EU steel demand from machinery sector fell 4.3% to 22.7 million tons in 2023
05
France's domestic steel consumption stabilized at 11.9 million tons in 2022
06
Spain's steel use in energy sector grew 8% to 4.2 million tons in 2023 amid renewables boom
07
Poland's total steel consumption hit 14.3 million tons in 2023, driven by infrastructure projects
08
EU metal packaging steel demand was 5.6 million tons in 2022
09
Netherlands steel consumption in shipbuilding reached 1.8 million tons in 2023
10
Belgium's steel use declined 6.2% to 3.9 million tons in 2023 post-auto slowdown
11
Austria's construction steel demand was 4.1 million tons in 2022
12
EU steel intensity of GDP was 28.5 kg per 1000 EUR in 2023, down from 32 kg in 2019
13
Sweden's steel consumption for appliances was 1.2 million tons in 2023
14
Romania's infrastructure steel use surged 15% to 3.8 million tons in 2022
15
EU Q1 2024 steel consumption forecast at 31.2 million tons, flat YoY
16
Czech Republic steel demand in automotive was 5.4 million tons in 2023
17
EU domestic appliance steel use fell to 4.8 million tons in 2023
18
Portugal's steel consumption totaled 2.7 million tons in 2022
19
Hungary's engineering sector steel demand was 2.9 million tons in 2023
20
EU steel stock changes contributed -2.1 million tons to consumption in 2023
21
Greece's steel use in metal goods was 1.5 million tons in 2022
22
Finland's steel consumption for pulp/paper machinery was 0.9 million tons in 2023
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
Within the consumption picture, EU steel demand stayed resilient at 132.4 million tons in 2023, rising 1.2% despite recession fears, even as specific sectors diverged with construction in Germany at 18.5 million tons and energy in Spain climbing 8% to 4.2 million tons.
02 · Category
Employment21 stats
01
EU employment in steel industry was 328,000 direct jobs in 2022, down 2% from 2021
02
Germany's steel sector employed 152,000 workers in 2023, with 25% in R&D roles
03
Italy had 38,500 steelworkers in 2022, facing 5% layoffs due to energy crisis
04
EU steel jobs in blast furnace operations totaled 85,000 in 2023, targeted for reskilling
05
France's steel employment fell to 29,000 in 2023 from ArcelorMittal and Aperam sites
06
Spain's steel industry supported 42,000 direct jobs in 2022, plus 150,000 indirect
07
Poland employed 50,200 in steel production in 2023, with union density at 65%
08
Belgium's steel workforce was 22,000 in 2022 at Duferco and NLMK
09
Netherlands Tata Steel IJmuiden had 8,900 employees in 2023 amid green transition
10
Austria's Voestalpine employed 51,000 group-wide in 2022, 20,000 in steelmaking
11
Sweden's steel jobs totaled 14,500 in 2023, with high female participation at 28%
12
Romania's steel employment was 18,300 in 2022 at Tenaris and Liberty Galați
13
Average EU steelworker hourly labor cost was 38.2 EUR in 2023, highest in Belgium at 52 EUR
14
Czech Republic steel sector had 25,000 jobs in 2023, focused on Třinecké železárny
15
EU steel apprenticeships numbered 12,000 in 2022 under dual system
16
Portugal's steel employment stabilized at 7,200 in 2023 post-Mota-Engil acquisition
17
Hungary employed 9,500 in steel in 2022, with automation reducing 3% YoY
18
Greece's steel jobs recovered to 4,100 in 2023 with Sidma operations
19
Finland's SSAB and Outokumpu employed 12,000 steelworkers in 2022
20
EU steel R&D staff reached 25,000 in 2023, investing 1.2 billion EUR annually
21
Slovakia's U.S. Steel Kosice had 13,500 employees in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
Across the EU, steel employment remains high but is trending downward, with direct jobs at 328,000 in 2022 down 2 percent from 2021, while specific countries like Italy and Germany face employment pressure and shifting needs such as 5 percent layoffs from the energy crisis and 25 percent of Germany’s steel workforce in R and D roles.
03 · Category
Environment25 stats
01
EU steel CO2 emissions totaled 104 million tons in 2022, 7% of industrial emissions
02
Germany's steel industry emitted 32.5 million tons CO2 in 2023, targeting 30% cut by 2030
03
EU blast furnace CO2 intensity was 1.85 tons per ton steel in 2022, vs global 1.92
04
Italy recycled 82% of steel scrap in EAF production in 2023, saving 14 million tons CO2
05
EU steel sector water usage averaged 1.2 m³ per ton produced in 2022
06
France's steel decarbonization roadmap aims for 55% CO2 reduction by 2030 via EAF
07
Spain's H2 Green Steel project in Boden to produce 2.5 Mt zero-carbon steel by 2026
08
EU steel energy intensity improved 12% to 18.5 GJ/ton since 2015 in 2023
09
Poland's steel plants captured 1.1 million tons CO2 in 2022 via CCUS pilots
10
EU recycled 120 million tons steel scrap in 2023, 86% recovery rate
11
Netherlands Tata Steel reduced NOx emissions 40% to 12 kg/ton in 2023 upgrades
12
Belgium's steel SOx emissions fell 95% since 1990 to 0.3 kg/ton in 2022
13
Sweden's HYBRIT project produced fossil-free steel with 80% less CO2 in 2023 trials
14
EU steel ETS costs reached 4.2 billion EUR in 2023, passed to consumers 70%
15
Austria's electric steelmaking share at 65% yielded 0.45 tCO2/t in 2022
16
EU hydrogen-ready blast furnaces numbered 5 in 2023, injecting 15% H2
17
Romania's steel dust recycling rate hit 92% in 2023, recovering 1.2 Mt metals
18
Czech Republic steel PM emissions reduced 25% to 0.15 kg/ton in 2022
19
EU steel biogas usage grew 22% to 1.5 million tons oil equiv in 2023
20
Portugal's electric arc furnaces used 620 kWh/ton electricity in 2022
21
EU steel biodiversity initiatives covered 15,000 ha land in 2023
22
Hungary's Dunaferr plant lowered dust emissions 18% to 0.22 kg/ton in 2023
23
Greece's steel sector wastewater reuse rate was 78% in 2022
24
Finland's SSAB carbon capture pilot sequestered 100,000 tons CO2 in 2023
25
EU steel green electricity procurement was 35% of total in 2023, up from 22% 2020
Interpretation
Environment Interpretation
Across Europe’s steel sector, the environmental outlook is improving, with CO2 intensity edging better than the global average in 2022 and growing reliance on recycling such as Italy’s 82% scrap use in EAF production in 2023 that saved 14 million tons of CO2.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production29 stats
01
In 2022, the European Union produced 136.3 million metric tons of crude steel, marking a 4.7% decrease from 2021
02
Germany's crude steel production in 2023 reached 35.8 million metric tons, accounting for 28.4% of total EU output
03
Italy's steel production volume in Q4 2023 was 6.8 million tons, down 12% year-over-year due to high energy costs
04
EU-27 pig iron production in 2022 totaled 76.2 million tons, with a reliance on blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace route at 58%
05
Spain contributed 13.7% of EU steel production in 2023 with 11.2 million tons from integrated and electric arc furnaces
06
France's crude steel output fell to 11.8 million tons in 2022, impacted by ArcelorMittal plant maintenance
07
EU electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production share reached 39.4% in 2023, up from 37.2% in 2020
08
Poland's steel production grew 5.2% to 7.9 million tons in 2023, driven by export demand
09
Netherlands produced 6.4 million tons of crude steel in 2022 via Tata Steel's IJmuiden plant
10
EU finished steel products output in 2023 was 128.5 million tons, with hot-rolled products at 45%
11
Belgium's steel production declined 8.3% to 4.2 million tons in 2023 due to BF shutdowns
12
Austria's Voestalpine produced 7.5 million tons of steel in 2022, focusing on high-value flat products
13
Czech Republic's steel output was 5.1 million tons in 2023, with Moravia Steel as key player
14
Sweden's crude steel production stood at 4.6 million tons in 2022, all via EAF route
15
Romania produced 3.2 million tons of steel in 2023, emphasizing long products
16
EU steel production capacity utilization rate was 72.5% in 2023, down from 85% pre-Ukraine war
17
Luxembourg's steel output dropped to 1.1 million tons in 2022 from ArcelorMittal operations
18
Slovakia's U.S. Steel Kosice produced 4.3 million tons in 2023
19
EU direct reduced iron (DRI) production reached 1.2 million tons in 2023, supporting green steel
20
Hungary's steel production was 2.1 million tons in 2022, mainly coils
21
EU hot metal production in Q1 2024 was 18.7 million tons
22
Greece's steel output stabilized at 1.8 million tons in 2023 post-Siderca acquisition
23
EU slab production volume was 42.3 million tons in 2022
24
Portugal's steel production hit 2.4 million tons in 2023 via EAF
25
EU bloom and billet output reached 28.6 million tons in 2023
26
Denmark's minimal steel production was 0.3 million tons in 2022 from niche producers
27
EU structural steel sections production was 12.4 million tons in 2023
28
Finland's Outokumpu stainless steel output was 2.2 million tons in 2022
29
EU wire rod production totaled 11.7 million tons in 2023
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
For the production side of Eu Steel Industry, crude output across the EU is slipping, with 2022 production at 136.3 million metric tons down 4.7% from 2021, while 2023 figures also show major national pressure such as Italy’s Q4 volumes falling 12% year over year to 6.8 million tons amid high energy costs.
05 · Category
Trade22 stats
01
EU steel exports to non-EU countries reached 37.2 million tons in 2023, up 2.5% from 2022
02
Germany's steel exports totaled 22.4 million tons in 2023, with 45% to EU partners
03
Italy imported 21.8 million tons of steel products in 2022, 60% semi-finished from Asia
04
EU steel imports from China were 11.4 million tons in 2023, down 15% due to safeguards
05
France's steel exports grew 3.1% to 9.7 million tons in 2023, mainly flat products
06
Spain exported 6.8 million tons of long steel products in 2022 to Turkey and US
07
Poland's steel imports surged 28% to 8.2 million tons in 2023 from Russia/Ukraine
08
Netherlands handled 15.3 million tons of steel imports as trade hub in 2023
09
Belgium's steel exports to UK reached 4.1 million tons in 2022 post-Brexit
10
EU steel trade surplus with US was 2.3 million tons in 2023 under quota agreements
11
Austria exported 5.2 million tons of special steel in 2023 to automotive sector
12
Sweden's stainless steel exports hit 1.9 million tons in 2022, 70% to Asia
13
Romania imported 4.5 million tons of slabs in 2023 for re-rolling
14
EU anti-dumping measures affected 3.1 million tons of imports in 2023
15
Czech Republic steel exports to Germany were 3.8 million tons in 2023
16
EU steel imports from Turkey declined 12% to 7.6 million tons in 2022
17
Portugal exported 1.7 million tons of wire rod in 2023 to Africa
18
Hungary's steel trade deficit widened to 1.2 million tons in 2023
19
Greece imported 2.9 million tons of rebar in 2022 for recovery fund projects
20
Finland's Outokumpu exported 70% of 2.2 million tons stainless steel in 2023
21
EU steel exports to Middle East grew 18% to 4.8 million tons in 2023
22
Slovakia exported 3.4 million tons of slabs to Italy in 2022
Interpretation
Trade Interpretation
Trade in EU steel shifted toward non-EU markets and away from China as exports to non-EU countries rose to 37.2 million tons in 2023 while imports from China fell to 11.4 million tons, down 15% after safeguards.
report visual · Comparison
EU steel demand: pockets of growth, broad cooling
Steel demand is mixed across sectors—some segments expand while others contract, alongside a modest overall uptick in EU consumption.
Spain's steel use in energy sector grew 8% to 4.2 million tons in 2023 amid renewables boom8%
Italy's automotive steel consumption was 12.1 million tons in 2023, down 5% due to EV transition5%
EU steel demand from machinery sector fell 4.3% to 22.7 million tons in 20234.3%
EU apparent steel consumption in 2023 was 132.4 million tons, up 1.2% from 2022 despite recession fears1.2%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Eu Steel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-steel-industry-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Eu Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/eu-steel-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Eu Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-steel-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
12 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level