German crude steel output rises in February, electric steel stagnates

Crude steel production in Germany increased slightly in February 2026, continuing the upward trend seen in the previous month, according to industry association Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl.

Output rose by 4.8% year-on-year to around 2.8 million tonnes. However, production trends differed by route. Output via the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route increased by 7.3%, while electric arc furnace (EAF) production — which is comparatively lower in CO₂ emissions — remained largely unchanged.

In the first two months of 2026, crude steel production is up by around 10% compared with the same period last year. Despite this improvement, overall production levels remain below the long-term average.

Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl, which represents Germany’s steel industry, noted that the sector continues to face structural challenges despite the recent recovery. The association represents an industry that produced 34.1 million tonnes of crude steel in 2025 and is targeting climate-neutral production by 2045.

Source: WV Stahl, Photo: Fotolia