[SMM Iron & Steel] German Crude Steel Output Rises 9.1% in Jan-Apr 2026 but High Material Costs Cloud Recovery

Published: May 25, 2026 17:31

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According to data released by the German Steel Federation (WV Stahl), Germany's crude steel production surged by 15.3% year-on-year in April 2026 to reach 3.51 million metric tons (mt), bringing cumulative production for the first four months of the year (January-April 2026) to 13.56 million mt, up 9.1% compared to the same period in 2025. This production increase was primarily led by the oxygen-blown blast furnace route, which jumped 16.9% year-on-year in April to 2.45 million mt, while electric arc furnace (EAF) production rose by 11.7% to 1.06 million mt during the month. Despite these positive figures, WV Stahl stressed that this output spike reflects a low statistical base from 2025 rather than an industrial turnaround.

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