Spanish steel industry and unions launch strategy for sector's competitiveness

Spain's steel industry association UNESID and the trade unions UGT FICA and CCOO Industria have launched a joint initiative to develop a long-term strategy aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the country's steel sector.

The organisations held a first working meeting to establish a shared vision for the future of the Spanish steel industry, recognising its strategic importance for the national economy and its extensive manufacturing value chain. The initiative is intended to address the challenges posed by the current economic, industrial and geopolitical environment through coordinated action.

Joint roadmap for the Spanish government

As part of the process, the three organisations will identify the sector's key challenges and opportunities before preparing a joint strategic document. The roadmap will include concrete policy recommendations that will later be presented to the Spanish government to support the industry's competitiveness, sustainability and capacity to create high-quality employment.

The planned strategy will cover a broad range of issues, including industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy and economic security, energy transition and decarbonisation, innovation, circular economy, workforce development and skills.

According to the organisations, the initiative will be based on social dialogue and cooperation between employers and trade unions, with the objective of reinforcing the steel industry's role as one of the pillars of the Spanish economy.

Steel remains a strategic industry

UNESID highlighted that steel remains a fundamental material for strategic sectors such as automotive, infrastructure, energy, defence, machinery and clean technologies.

In 2025, Spain produced 11.8 million tonnes of crude steel and exported almost 8 million tonnes, maintaining its position as one of the European Union's leading steel producers.

The association also underlined the sector's circular economy performance. Each year, Spanish steelmakers recycle around 9.3 million tonnes of scrap, recover approximately 80% of production residues and by-products, and achieve water recirculation rates exceeding 90%. In addition, the industry invests around €7 per tonne of steel produced in environmental protection measures.

Source: UNESID, Photo: Fotolia