[SMM Steel Market Flash] German Crude Steel Tops 2022 Levels Despite 500K Job Losses, Propped Up by Trade Shields

Published: May 29, 2026 17:36

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German crude steel production has risen significantly since early 2026, surpassing 2022 output levels according to the German Steel Federation, even as the broader economy deteriorates sharply. The Federal Statistical Office reported nearly 500,000 jobs lost in Q1 2026, concentrated in manufacturing, construction, and trade, while insolvencies have hit their highest rate in over two decades per the Halle Institute for Economic Research. Industry analysts attribute the steel sector's divergence to EU trade defence measures and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism shielding domestic producers from international competition — a dynamic critics argue defers rather than resolves the structural investment gap in European steelmaking.

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