[SMM Iron & Steel] German Scrap Sector Faces Intense Pressure in 2025 Amid Weak Domestic Steel Demand

Published: May 7, 2026 15:45

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Germany's crude steel production fell by 8.6% to a historical low of 34.1 million metric tons (mt) in 2025, remaining well below the 40 million mt designed capacity threshold required for sustainable industry utilization. Consequently, domestic steel mills' scrap purchases declined by 5.3% to 12.0 million mt, forcing a shift in trade dynamics that resulted in a net scrap export surplus of 3.7 million mt, as scrap exports rose by 5.3% to 7.7 million mt while imports dropped by 9.4% to 3.9 million mt.

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