Directorate-General for Trade

Steel

For information on other metal types, see Non-ferrous metals

• EU steel exports in 2007: 33.4 million tonnes (€36.8 billion)
• EU steel imports in 2007: 48.8 million tonnes (€32.1 billion)
• EU share of global steel exports in 2007: 11%
• Biggest markets for EU steel exports in 2007: Turkey, US, Switzerland, Algeria, India.

Steel is the most commonly-used material in the world, with an annual production of around 1.3 billion tonnes (2007). Its elasticity, flexibility and reusability make it the single most useful basic industrial material on earth.

The EU is the second largest producer of crude steel, producing 210 million tonnes in 2007 (16% of world production). China was the world's largest producer in 2007 with 485 million tonnes (37% of world production), followed in third place by Japan with 120 million tonnes and the USA with 97 million tonnes.

The turnover in the EU steel sector in 2007 was €140 billion. Employment in the steel sector has contracted steadily in recent decades from 1 million people working in the sector in 1970, to around 370000 employed in the sector in 2007. However, the number of Europeans working in industries dependent on domestically-produced or imported steel number in the millions.

In 2007, EU steel imports rose by 25% from 39 to 48.8 million tonnes. Much of this increase originated from China. During the same period, the EU saw its steel exports stagnate at around 33.4 million tonnes. While European exports of some forms of steel product such as hot rolled coils and quarto (heavy) plate have increased, European exports of galvanised sheet and wire rod steel have fallen.

Since 2003, world steel markets have been buoyant, powered by strong demand from developing countries, especially in South-East Asia, and China in particular. As a result, prices of steel products and of raw materials have increased significantly. This trend has been sharply reversed in 2008 following the financial crisis.

Following a 'zero-for zero' agreement negotiated during the Uruguay WTO world trade negotiations, the EU has reduced its import duties for most steel products to 0%.

For large steel producers who are not members of the WTO the EU operates a system of annual import quotas that govern the overall levels of steel imports from these countries to the EU. For Kazakhstan these quotas are 0.2 million tonnes. For Russia, they are implemented as part of an EU-Russia agreement and amount to 3.2 million tonnes. These quotas will lapse when these countries join the WTO.

Supporting information

Other information sources

• Further information on specific trade barriers facing thesteel and other metals industries in Market Access Database
• Find out more about Enterprise and Industry

Legislation

1. Council Regulation (EC) No 1340/2008 of 8 December 2008 on trade in certain steel products between the European Community and the Republic of Kazakhstan
   • Languages:
     • fr
     • de
   • 24 December 2008
   • Format: PDF
2. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1051/2008 of 24 October 2008 amending Annex V to Council Regulation (EC) No 1342/2007 as regards the quantitative limits of certain steel procucts from the Russian Federation
   • Languages:
     • fr
     • de
   • 26 October 2008
   • Format: PDF
3. Steel trade legislation
   • 18 September 2008
   • Format: PDF