German steelworks reduced steel production by 1.8 per cent year-on-year in July 2026, to 2.68 million tonnes. Compared with the previous month, the figure fell by 8.7 per cent. This is according to data from the German Steel Industry Association (WV Stahl).

The industry association cites persistently weak demand as the reason for the slowdown in steel production in the country. It is also noted that July’s figures showed a decline for the first time in 2026.

Oxygen converters produced 1.83 million tonnes of steel over the month, which is 4% lower year-on-year and compared with June. Steel production in electric arc furnaces for the period totalled 849,000 tonnes, up 3.3% year-on-year but down 17.4% month-on-month.

Pig iron production in July stood at 1.66 million tonnes, down 4.5% year-on-year and 4% month-on-month. Hot-rolled steel production for the period rose by 1.4% year-on-year, but fell by 5.7% month-on-month to 2.54 million tonnes.

Over the first seven months, the country’s steel production totalled 21.3 million tonnes, an increase of 6.8% compared with the same period last year. 14.59 million tonnes were produced in basic oxygen furnaces (+8.5% year-on-year), and 6.72 million tonnes in electric arc furnaces (+3.4% year-on-year). In January–July, 13.3 million tonnes of pig iron were produced, up 7.3% year-on-year, and 18.64 million tonnes of rolled steel products (+4.2% year-on-year).

It should be noted that, according to the figures for 2025, Germany reduced its steel production by 8.6% compared with 2024 – to 34.09 million tonnes. Last year, 23.64 million tonnes of steel were produced in basic oxygen furnaces (-10.7% year-on-year), and 10.44 million tonnes in electric arc furnaces (-3.5% year-on-year). Pig iron production over the 12-month period fell by 10.1% year-on-year to 21.87 million tonnes. Rolled steel production decreased by 5.5% year-on-year to 29.76 million tonnes.