European steel distributors plan Brussels convoy over competitiveness

European steel distributors, service centres and other industrial companies are preparing a truck convoy in Brussels on 7 September 2026 to call for stronger measures to protect Europe's manufacturing value chains.

Organised with the support of European steel distribution association EUROMETAL, the European Convoy for Industrial Competitiveness will gather companies and industry representatives in front of the European Commission's Berlaymont headquarters under the message "Keep Manufacturing in Europe."

EUROMETAL stresses that the initiative is not directed against European integration, but is intended to highlight concerns over industrial competitiveness, investment conditions, employment and increasingly vulnerable supply chains.

Steel derivatives at centre of concerns

A particular concern is the growing volume of imported steel-containing finished and semi-finished products. According to EUROMETAL, many such products are not classified as steel products under customs rules and can therefore remain outside existing steel safeguards and the current scope of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

EUROMETAL says imports covered by a selected group of critical steel derivatives increased from 3.77 million tonnes in 2010 to 8.05 million tonnes in 2024. Particularly strong growth was recorded for products used in rail technology, electrical machinery, automotive components, metal furniture and prefabricated construction.

The association argues that this creates a growing risk of downstream carbon leakage. While European steelmakers and processors face costs related to the EU Emissions Trading System, energy, labour and other regulatory requirements, imported steel-intensive products may not face equivalent obligations.

As a result, EUROMETAL warns that manufacturing and processing could increasingly move outside Europe before steel returns to the EU embedded in finished products.

EUROMETAL calls for broader trade protection

EUROMETAL is calling for EU trade-defence measures to be extended to steel-intensive products and derivatives, alongside a gradual expansion of CBAM. It also wants stronger origin and traceability requirements, including Melt & Pour rules, and greater transparency concerning steel content, origin and embedded emissions.

The association also advocates a practical Made in Europe framework covering strategic procurement and projects in infrastructure, defence, energy transition and mobility.

EUROMETAL argues that the issue extends well beyond steel production itself. Its analysis links around 100,000 direct jobs to European steel trade and distribution, around 300,000 to steel production and approximately 13.6 million jobs in downstream industries to competitive European steel and metal value chains.

Companies, associations and other industrial stakeholders are being invited to participate in the Brussels event with trucks or representatives. Further details on the programme and logistics are expected ahead of the September demonstration.

Source and Photo: Eurometal