German crude steel production rebounded in the first month of the year after the industry had faced COVID-19 consequences in 2020. In January, crude steel output moved up by 6% to almost 3.3 million t y-o-y, according to German Steel Federation (WV Stahl).

While BOF steel production increased by 7% to 2.3 million t, EAF rose by 3% to 956,000 t y-o-y, Metal Expert has learnt.

These figures mean that production has reached the average value of 2019 again, but it is still at a relatively low level,” according to WV Stahl.

Massive customer closures, supply chain disruption, infrastructure project postponements and renewed lockdown measures at the end of the year resulted in 10% of steel output drop, to 35.7 million t in 2020.

For 2021, Leibniz Institute for Economic Research in Essen expects that the steel production will increase by 11% to almost 37.5 million t, with capacity utilisation rate to be 75%, Metal Expert reported.