GITNUXREPORT 2026

European Steel Industry Statistics

The European steel industry's production fell in 2022 due to severe energy cost pressures.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In 2022, EU steel industry employed 331,000 direct workers, down 1.2% from 2021.

Statistic 2

Germany's steel sector jobs 2022: 112,000 FTE.

Statistic 3

Italy steel employment 2022: 45,300 workers.

Statistic 4

France steel jobs 2022: 28,500, 15% in R&D.

Statistic 5

Spain's steel workforce 2022: 22,400 employees.

Statistic 6

EU steel industry added value 2022: €45.2 billion.

Statistic 7

Poland steel employment 2022: 18,900 jobs.

Statistic 8

Belgium steel workers 2022: 12,100.

Statistic 9

Netherlands steel jobs 2022: 10,200 FTE.

Statistic 10

Austria employment 2022: 14,500 in steel.

Statistic 11

EU steel turnover 2022: €168.7 billion.

Statistic 12

Czech steel jobs 2022: 11,300.

Statistic 13

Slovakia steel employment 2022: 9,800 workers.

Statistic 14

Romania jobs in steel 2022: 8,200.

Statistic 15

Sweden steel workforce 2022: 13,400 high-skill.

Statistic 16

Hungary steel jobs 2022: 5,600.

Statistic 17

Finland employment 2022: 7,200 in steel.

Statistic 18

UK steel jobs 2022: 31,900.

Statistic 19

EU steel labour productivity 2022: 382 tonnes/worker.

Statistic 20

EU steel investment 2022: €4.8 billion in capex.

Statistic 21

Average EU steel wage 2022: €52,300/year.

Statistic 22

EU steel R&D spending 2022: €1.2 billion.

Statistic 23

In 2022, EU apparent steel consumption (ASC) totaled 132.4 million tonnes, a 4.8% drop from 2021.

Statistic 24

Germany's ASC in 2022 was 37.1 Mt, representing 28% of EU total.

Statistic 25

Italy's steel use in 2022: 22.6 Mt, down 10.2% due to construction slowdown.

Statistic 26

France ASC 2022: 13.4 Mt, automotive sector consuming 32%.

Statistic 27

Spain's apparent consumption 2022: 12.8 Mt, up 2% on exports.

Statistic 28

EU automotive steel demand 2022: 38.5 Mt, 29% of total ASC.

Statistic 29

Poland steel consumption 2022: 11.2 Mt, construction 45% share.

Statistic 30

In Q1 2023, EU ASC was 30.1 Mt, down 12% QoQ.

Statistic 31

Belgium ASC 2022: 4.2 Mt, machinery sector key driver.

Statistic 32

EU construction steel demand 2022: 42.3 Mt, 32% of ASC.

Statistic 33

Netherlands consumption 2022: 5.1 Mt.

Statistic 34

Austria steel use 2022: 3.8 Mt, down 8%.

Statistic 35

EU domestic appliances steel demand 2022: 4.7 Mt.

Statistic 36

Czech ASC 2022: 5.5 Mt, automotive 55%.

Statistic 37

EU mechanical engineering steel consumption 2022: 28.1 Mt.

Statistic 38

Slovakia 2022 ASC: 3.9 Mt.

Statistic 39

In 2022, EU metal products steel use: 15.6 Mt.

Statistic 40

Romania consumption 2022: 3.4 Mt.

Statistic 41

Sweden ASC 2022: 3.1 Mt, niche markets strong.

Statistic 42

EU energy sector steel demand 2022: 6.2 Mt.

Statistic 43

Hungary steel use 2022: 2.3 Mt.

Statistic 44

Finland ASC 2022: 2.8 Mt.

Statistic 45

UK apparent consumption 2022: 8.7 Mt, down 9%.

Statistic 46

EU shipbuilding steel demand 2022: 1.9 Mt.

Statistic 47

EU steel price index (HRC) averaged 850 €/tonne in 2022.

Statistic 48

In 2022, the European Union produced 126.3 million tonnes of crude steel, marking a 6.2% decline from 2021 levels due to high energy costs.

Statistic 49

Germany's crude steel production in 2022 was 36.5 million tonnes, accounting for 28.9% of total EU output.

Statistic 50

Italy's steel production volume in 2022 stood at 21.8 million tonnes, down 12.4% year-over-year amid raw material shortages.

Statistic 51

France produced 12.1 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, with electric arc furnace (EAF) contributing 45% of total.

Statistic 52

Spain's crude steel output reached 11.2 million tonnes in 2022, supported by scrap-based EAF production at 72% capacity utilization.

Statistic 53

The EU-27's pig iron production in 2022 was 50.4 million tonnes, a 8.1% decrease from the previous year.

Statistic 54

In 2023 Q1, EU hot-rolled coil (HRC) production averaged 8.2 million tonnes, up 4% from Q4 2022.

Statistic 55

Poland's steel production in 2022 hit 7.9 million tonnes, with 65% from integrated blast furnaces.

Statistic 56

EU direct reduced iron (DRI) production in 2022 was 2.1 million tonnes, primarily from Sweden and Austria.

Statistic 57

Belgium's crude steel output in 2022 was 4.6 million tonnes, down 10% due to BF maintenance shutdowns.

Statistic 58

In 2022, EU steel slab production totaled 28.7 million tonnes, with Germany leading at 9.4 Mt.

Statistic 59

Austria produced 7.2 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, 80% via BOF route.

Statistic 60

EU bloom and billet production in 2022 reached 15.3 million tonnes, up 3% YoY.

Statistic 61

Netherlands steel production in 2022 was 6.8 million tonnes, focused on long products.

Statistic 62

In Q2 2023, EU structural steel section production was 1.9 million tonnes.

Statistic 63

Czech Republic's crude steel output in 2022: 5.1 million tonnes, EAF share 55%.

Statistic 64

EU wire rod production 2022: 12.4 million tonnes, Italy dominant at 4.2 Mt.

Statistic 65

Slovakia produced 4.3 million tonnes of steel in 2022, all BOF-based.

Statistic 66

In 2022, EU heavy plate production was 9.8 million tonnes, down 7%.

Statistic 67

Romania's steel production: 4.7 Mt in 2022, scrap recycling rate 92%.

Statistic 68

EU cold-rolled coil output 2022: 14.5 million tonnes.

Statistic 69

Sweden's crude steel production 2022: 4.5 Mt, 100% scrap-based EAF.

Statistic 70

In 2023, EU steel production capacity utilization was 72.5%.

Statistic 71

Hungary's output: 2.1 Mt crude steel 2022.

Statistic 72

EU rolled products production 2022: 110.2 Mt.

Statistic 73

Finland produced 3.2 Mt steel in 2022, specialty focus.

Statistic 74

EU EAF steel production share in 2022: 41.3%.

Statistic 75

UK's crude steel production 2022: 5.9 Mt, down 15%.

Statistic 76

EU BOF steel production 2022: 74.2 Mt.

Statistic 77

In 2022, EU steel industry CO2 emissions totaled 310 million tonnes, 7% below 2018 levels.

Statistic 78

Germany's steel sector emitted 78 Mt CO2 in 2022, 25% of EU total.

Statistic 79

EU blast furnace CO2 intensity 2022: 1.85 tCO2/t crude steel.

Statistic 80

Italy's steel recycling rate 2022: 87.5%.

Statistic 81

France steel energy intensity 2022: 18.2 GJ/t steel.

Statistic 82

Spain recycled 9.8 Mt scrap in 2022.

Statistic 83

EU EAF CO2 emissions 2022: 0.35 tCO2/tcs.

Statistic 84

Poland steel dust emissions controlled to 0.12 kg/t in 2022.

Statistic 85

EU steel water usage 2022: 12.4 m³/t steel.

Statistic 86

Belgium BF-BOF plants captured 2.1 Mt CO2 via CCUS pilots 2022.

Statistic 87

Netherlands steel renewable energy share 2022: 42%.

Statistic 88

Austria green steel production 2022: 1.2 Mt H2-based.

Statistic 89

EU steel SOx emissions 2022: down 65% since 1990.

Statistic 90

Czech steel NOx reductions 2022: 18% YoY.

Statistic 91

EU scrap input rate 2022: 31.2% of melt shop.

Statistic 92

Slovakia steel biodiversity projects covered 450 ha in 2022.

Statistic 93

EU steel H2 use in trials 2022: 150,000 tonnes.

Statistic 94

Romania wastewater treatment 2022: 98% efficiency.

Statistic 95

Sweden fossil-free steel milestone: 1 Mt in 2022.

Statistic 96

EU steel ETS costs 2022: €12.5 billion.

Statistic 97

Hungary PM emissions 2022: 0.08 g/Nm³.

Statistic 98

Finland steel forest certification 2022: 100% FSC/PEFC.

Statistic 99

UK steel decarbonization investment 2022: £500 million.

Statistic 100

EU steel circular economy index 2022: 92% materials recovered.

Statistic 101

In 2022, EU exported 52.6 million tonnes of steel products, a 10.3% increase from 2021.

Statistic 102

Germany's steel exports 2022: 22.1 Mt, to EU partners 45%.

Statistic 103

Italy exported 18.4 Mt steel in 2022, 60% to non-EU.

Statistic 104

France steel exports 2022: 9.8 Mt, Turkey main destination.

Statistic 105

Spain's steel exports: 13.2 Mt in 2022, up 15%.

Statistic 106

EU steel imports 2022: 43.7 Mt, from Asia 55%.

Statistic 107

Poland exports 2022: 8.6 Mt steel products.

Statistic 108

Belgium steel trade surplus 2022: 2.1 Mt.

Statistic 109

In Q1 2023, EU steel exports: 12.4 Mt.

Statistic 110

Netherlands steel exports 2022: 7.3 Mt.

Statistic 111

Austria exports: 5.9 Mt in 2022.

Statistic 112

EU intra-EU steel trade 2022: 78.2 Mt.

Statistic 113

Czech steel exports 2022: 6.1 Mt.

Statistic 114

Slovakia exports 2022: 5.4 Mt steel.

Statistic 115

EU steel imports from China 2022: 12.3 Mt.

Statistic 116

Romania steel exports 2022: 3.7 Mt.

Statistic 117

Sweden exports 2022: 4.2 Mt high-value steel.

Statistic 118

Hungary exports: 2.8 Mt in 2022.

Statistic 119

Finland steel exports 2022: 3.5 Mt.

Statistic 120

UK steel exports 2022: 4.1 Mt post-Brexit.

Statistic 121

EU steel trade balance 2022: +8.9 Mt.

Statistic 122

EU imports from Turkey 2022: 8.4 Mt steel.

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From powerhouse to precarious: the European steel industry produced 126.3 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, a 6.2% drop fueled by crippling energy costs and a sector fighting to modernize and decarbonize against global headwinds.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the European Union produced 126.3 million tonnes of crude steel, marking a 6.2% decline from 2021 levels due to high energy costs.
Germany's crude steel production in 2022 was 36.5 million tonnes, accounting for 28.9% of total EU output.
Italy's steel production volume in 2022 stood at 21.8 million tonnes, down 12.4% year-over-year amid raw material shortages.
In 2022, EU apparent steel consumption (ASC) totaled 132.4 million tonnes, a 4.8% drop from 2021.
Germany's ASC in 2022 was 37.1 Mt, representing 28% of EU total.
Italy's steel use in 2022: 22.6 Mt, down 10.2% due to construction slowdown.
In 2022, EU exported 52.6 million tonnes of steel products, a 10.3% increase from 2021.
Germany's steel exports 2022: 22.1 Mt, to EU partners 45%.
Italy exported 18.4 Mt steel in 2022, 60% to non-EU.
In 2022, EU steel industry employed 331,000 direct workers, down 1.2% from 2021.
Germany's steel sector jobs 2022: 112,000 FTE.
Italy steel employment 2022: 45,300 workers.
In 2022, EU steel industry CO2 emissions totaled 310 million tonnes, 7% below 2018 levels.
Germany's steel sector emitted 78 Mt CO2 in 2022, 25% of EU total.
EU blast furnace CO2 intensity 2022: 1.85 tCO2/t crude steel.

The European steel industry's production fell in 2022 due to severe energy cost pressures.

Employment and Economics

In 2022, EU steel industry employed 331,000 direct workers, down 1.2% from 2021.
Germany's steel sector jobs 2022: 112,000 FTE.
Italy steel employment 2022: 45,300 workers.
France steel jobs 2022: 28,500, 15% in R&D.
Spain's steel workforce 2022: 22,400 employees.
EU steel industry added value 2022: €45.2 billion.
Poland steel employment 2022: 18,900 jobs.
Belgium steel workers 2022: 12,100.
Netherlands steel jobs 2022: 10,200 FTE.
Austria employment 2022: 14,500 in steel.
EU steel turnover 2022: €168.7 billion.
Czech steel jobs 2022: 11,300.
Slovakia steel employment 2022: 9,800 workers.
Romania jobs in steel 2022: 8,200.
Sweden steel workforce 2022: 13,400 high-skill.
Hungary steel jobs 2022: 5,600.
Finland employment 2022: 7,200 in steel.
UK steel jobs 2022: 31,900.
EU steel labour productivity 2022: 382 tonnes/worker.
EU steel investment 2022: €4.8 billion in capex.
Average EU steel wage 2022: €52,300/year.
EU steel R&D spending 2022: €1.2 billion.

Employment and Economics Interpretation

While its total employment is now a leaner 331,000, Europe's steel industry forges a robust €45.2 billion in added value, proving it can be simultaneously smaller, smarter, and significantly more productive.

Market and Consumption

In 2022, EU apparent steel consumption (ASC) totaled 132.4 million tonnes, a 4.8% drop from 2021.
Germany's ASC in 2022 was 37.1 Mt, representing 28% of EU total.
Italy's steel use in 2022: 22.6 Mt, down 10.2% due to construction slowdown.
France ASC 2022: 13.4 Mt, automotive sector consuming 32%.
Spain's apparent consumption 2022: 12.8 Mt, up 2% on exports.
EU automotive steel demand 2022: 38.5 Mt, 29% of total ASC.
Poland steel consumption 2022: 11.2 Mt, construction 45% share.
In Q1 2023, EU ASC was 30.1 Mt, down 12% QoQ.
Belgium ASC 2022: 4.2 Mt, machinery sector key driver.
EU construction steel demand 2022: 42.3 Mt, 32% of ASC.
Netherlands consumption 2022: 5.1 Mt.
Austria steel use 2022: 3.8 Mt, down 8%.
EU domestic appliances steel demand 2022: 4.7 Mt.
Czech ASC 2022: 5.5 Mt, automotive 55%.
EU mechanical engineering steel consumption 2022: 28.1 Mt.
Slovakia 2022 ASC: 3.9 Mt.
In 2022, EU metal products steel use: 15.6 Mt.
Romania consumption 2022: 3.4 Mt.
Sweden ASC 2022: 3.1 Mt, niche markets strong.
EU energy sector steel demand 2022: 6.2 Mt.
Hungary steel use 2022: 2.3 Mt.
Finland ASC 2022: 2.8 Mt.
UK apparent consumption 2022: 8.7 Mt, down 9%.
EU shipbuilding steel demand 2022: 1.9 Mt.
EU steel price index (HRC) averaged 850 €/tonne in 2022.

Market and Consumption Interpretation

In 2022, the European steel industry, like a well-engineered German car, remained powerful but sputtered with a 4.8% overall decline, as its Italian heart was slowed by construction woes, its French flair leaned on autos, and its hopeful Spanish spark came from exports, all while staring down a disconcerting 12% quarterly drop to start 2023.

Production Statistics

In 2022, the European Union produced 126.3 million tonnes of crude steel, marking a 6.2% decline from 2021 levels due to high energy costs.
Germany's crude steel production in 2022 was 36.5 million tonnes, accounting for 28.9% of total EU output.
Italy's steel production volume in 2022 stood at 21.8 million tonnes, down 12.4% year-over-year amid raw material shortages.
France produced 12.1 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, with electric arc furnace (EAF) contributing 45% of total.
Spain's crude steel output reached 11.2 million tonnes in 2022, supported by scrap-based EAF production at 72% capacity utilization.
The EU-27's pig iron production in 2022 was 50.4 million tonnes, a 8.1% decrease from the previous year.
In 2023 Q1, EU hot-rolled coil (HRC) production averaged 8.2 million tonnes, up 4% from Q4 2022.
Poland's steel production in 2022 hit 7.9 million tonnes, with 65% from integrated blast furnaces.
EU direct reduced iron (DRI) production in 2022 was 2.1 million tonnes, primarily from Sweden and Austria.
Belgium's crude steel output in 2022 was 4.6 million tonnes, down 10% due to BF maintenance shutdowns.
In 2022, EU steel slab production totaled 28.7 million tonnes, with Germany leading at 9.4 Mt.
Austria produced 7.2 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, 80% via BOF route.
EU bloom and billet production in 2022 reached 15.3 million tonnes, up 3% YoY.
Netherlands steel production in 2022 was 6.8 million tonnes, focused on long products.
In Q2 2023, EU structural steel section production was 1.9 million tonnes.
Czech Republic's crude steel output in 2022: 5.1 million tonnes, EAF share 55%.
EU wire rod production 2022: 12.4 million tonnes, Italy dominant at 4.2 Mt.
Slovakia produced 4.3 million tonnes of steel in 2022, all BOF-based.
In 2022, EU heavy plate production was 9.8 million tonnes, down 7%.
Romania's steel production: 4.7 Mt in 2022, scrap recycling rate 92%.
EU cold-rolled coil output 2022: 14.5 million tonnes.
Sweden's crude steel production 2022: 4.5 Mt, 100% scrap-based EAF.
In 2023, EU steel production capacity utilization was 72.5%.
Hungary's output: 2.1 Mt crude steel 2022.
EU rolled products production 2022: 110.2 Mt.
Finland produced 3.2 Mt steel in 2022, specialty focus.
EU EAF steel production share in 2022: 41.3%.
UK's crude steel production 2022: 5.9 Mt, down 15%.
EU BOF steel production 2022: 74.2 Mt.

Production Statistics Interpretation

The EU's steel industry, battered by an energy crisis and material shortages in 2022, reveals a resilient but fragmented continent where Germany's blast furnaces remain the dominant, albeit gasping, heavyweight while a nimble, scrappy cohort led by Italy, Spain, and Sweden is quietly forging a greener, more electric future.

Sustainability and Environment

In 2022, EU steel industry CO2 emissions totaled 310 million tonnes, 7% below 2018 levels.
Germany's steel sector emitted 78 Mt CO2 in 2022, 25% of EU total.
EU blast furnace CO2 intensity 2022: 1.85 tCO2/t crude steel.
Italy's steel recycling rate 2022: 87.5%.
France steel energy intensity 2022: 18.2 GJ/t steel.
Spain recycled 9.8 Mt scrap in 2022.
EU EAF CO2 emissions 2022: 0.35 tCO2/tcs.
Poland steel dust emissions controlled to 0.12 kg/t in 2022.
EU steel water usage 2022: 12.4 m³/t steel.
Belgium BF-BOF plants captured 2.1 Mt CO2 via CCUS pilots 2022.
Netherlands steel renewable energy share 2022: 42%.
Austria green steel production 2022: 1.2 Mt H2-based.
EU steel SOx emissions 2022: down 65% since 1990.
Czech steel NOx reductions 2022: 18% YoY.
EU scrap input rate 2022: 31.2% of melt shop.
Slovakia steel biodiversity projects covered 450 ha in 2022.
EU steel H2 use in trials 2022: 150,000 tonnes.
Romania wastewater treatment 2022: 98% efficiency.
Sweden fossil-free steel milestone: 1 Mt in 2022.
EU steel ETS costs 2022: €12.5 billion.
Hungary PM emissions 2022: 0.08 g/Nm³.
Finland steel forest certification 2022: 100% FSC/PEFC.
UK steel decarbonization investment 2022: £500 million.
EU steel circular economy index 2022: 92% materials recovered.

Sustainability and Environment Interpretation

The European steel industry, marching like a determined but uneven parade, is showing serious progress with emissions down 7% since 2018 thanks to aggressive recycling, hydrogen trials, and costly carbon permits, yet its green transformation remains a patchwork quilt of national efforts from Germany's hefty emissions to Sweden's fossil-free milestones and Italy's stellar scrap rates.

Trade Data

In 2022, EU exported 52.6 million tonnes of steel products, a 10.3% increase from 2021.
Germany's steel exports 2022: 22.1 Mt, to EU partners 45%.
Italy exported 18.4 Mt steel in 2022, 60% to non-EU.
France steel exports 2022: 9.8 Mt, Turkey main destination.
Spain's steel exports: 13.2 Mt in 2022, up 15%.
EU steel imports 2022: 43.7 Mt, from Asia 55%.
Poland exports 2022: 8.6 Mt steel products.
Belgium steel trade surplus 2022: 2.1 Mt.
In Q1 2023, EU steel exports: 12.4 Mt.
Netherlands steel exports 2022: 7.3 Mt.
Austria exports: 5.9 Mt in 2022.
EU intra-EU steel trade 2022: 78.2 Mt.
Czech steel exports 2022: 6.1 Mt.
Slovakia exports 2022: 5.4 Mt steel.
EU steel imports from China 2022: 12.3 Mt.
Romania steel exports 2022: 3.7 Mt.
Sweden exports 2022: 4.2 Mt high-value steel.
Hungary exports: 2.8 Mt in 2022.
Finland steel exports 2022: 3.5 Mt.
UK steel exports 2022: 4.1 Mt post-Brexit.
EU steel trade balance 2022: +8.9 Mt.
EU imports from Turkey 2022: 8.4 Mt steel.

Trade Data Interpretation

While the EU's steel industry maintained a robust export surplus in 2022, its continued heavy reliance on imports from Asia reveals a strategic vulnerability, even as nations like Italy and France increasingly look beyond the bloc for their customers.

Sources & References

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