German crude steel production has shown signs of recovery in the first half of the year, rebounding from the historical low seen last year. According to the national steel federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl, the crude steel output from January to June totaled 19.4 million tonnes, marking a 4.5% increase compared to the first half of 2023.
The recovery was particularly notable in June, with an output of 3.19 million tonnes, up 8.9% year-on-year. This increase was driven mainly by electric arc furnace mills, which saw a significant 20.8% rise in production to 1.01 million tonnes. Oxygen-route mills also contributed to the recovery, with a 4.1% increase in output to 2.17 million tonnes.
Despite this positive trend, the sustainability of the recovery remains uncertain due to weak demand from key consumer sectors and high power prices, which continue to be a significant cost burden for the industry.
