News » Joint Statement: European social partners commit to working towards a competitive transition of the European steel sector
Joint Statement: European social partners commit to working towards a competitive transition of the European steel sector
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With energy and raw material costs remaining high, global overcapacity continuing to increase, and no end in sight for the cost-of-living crisis in Europe, the European steel social partners, industriAll European Trade Union and EUROFER commit to continue to work together to support the twin green and digital transition of the European steel industry and its workers.
European steel is essential for the green transition and is at the heart of European industry providing 310,000 direct, and 2.2 million indirect jobs, in the EU. Ahead of the EU elections in 2024, various pieces of EU legislation need to be finalised with the aim of ensuring a more sustainable future for the steel industry in Europe.
Now more than ever, the European steel sector and its workers need to see increased support for investment to ensure that the green and digital transitions are managed successfully with no steel worker or region being left behind.
European Social Partners:
The European Social Partners will continue to work together and with national and European policy makers to ensure the survival of the European steel sector.
27 November 2023
Brussels, 07 May 2024 – The European Commission has today published two Regulations extending the anti-dumping and countervailing measures in force on imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products (SSCR) originating in Indonesia to imports of SSCR from Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam. EUROFER welcomes the extension of the duties and the introduction of import requirements connected to strict monitoring of imports.
The outlook for the European steel market in 2024 continues to lose momentum amidst persisting challenging conditions. Downside factors such as worsening geopolitical tensions, coupled with growing economic uncertainty, energy prices, inflation, interest rates have further impacted demand prospects. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, these challenges have exacerbated the negative effects on apparent steel consumption, resulting in a more severe downturn in 2023 than previously projected (-9%, instead of -6.3%) and weaker growth in 2024 (+3.2%, instead of +5.6%). Output in steel-using sectors, despite showing more resilience than expected in the past year (+1.1%), is now set to decline (-1%). Imports are once again on the rise (+11% in the last quarter of 2023), capturing a staggering 27% market share throughout 2023.
Second quarter 2024 report. Data up to, and including, fourth quarter 2023