Member of the European Parliament Andrea Wechsler (CDU/EVP) visited Badische Stahlwerke in Kehl – a visit that underscores the urgency of the situation for the German steel industry. The industry is fighting against structural burdens: skyrocketing energy costs, tightened CO2 regulations, and trade policy uncertainties threaten competitiveness.
Relevant for planners and construction engineers: German steel production is the basis for high-rise building and infrastructure projects. Cost pressures on steel mills can have medium-term effects on materials and supply chains. The European Union signals sensitivity to industrial policy through such visits, but falls significantly short of manufacturers' demands with concrete measures – such as electricity price brakes or exceptions to carbon leakage regulations.
Central point of contention: How can green steel production (H2 electric arc furnaces) be subsidized without German mills failing economically against extra-European competitors? The answer will be decisive in 2024/2025 for steel availability and costs in the construction sector.
