Import crisis for grain-oriented electrical steel: thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel extends production cuts at its Isbergues site in France

 

• Complete production shutdown from June to September
• A necessary response to the unchecked rise in low-cost imports
• Immediate trade defence measures are urgently required
• Grain-oriented electrical steel: a strategically important and indispensable base material for power grids and the energy transition
• 1,200 jobs at risk in Germany and France

The import crisis in the market for grain-oriented electrical steel is continuing to worsen. thyssenkrupp Steel is responding with further production cuts. Following the temporary shutdown of production at the Gelsenkirchen and Isbergues sites by the subsidiary thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel at the turn of the year, and with production in Isbergues running at just 50 per cent of total capacity since January, the site will now be completely closed from June to September. The measure is a further necessary response to an increasingly dramatic import situation. Regardless of the planned production shutdown, the supply to Electrical Steel’s customers is guaranteed at all times.

Angelo Di Martino, CEO of thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel: “In view of the ruinous flood of imports in the market for grain-oriented electrical steel, we see no alternative but to temporarily shut down our French site once again. This measure is necessary to stabilise our company amid further deterioration in order intake. We are faced with import prices that in some cases lie well below production costs in the EU. We therefore urgently need appropriate trade protection to establish fair competitive conditions for this strategically important product. This also concerns around 1,200 skilled jobs, which we aim to safeguard at our sites in Gelsenkirchen and Isbergues. We are engaged in intensive and constructive dialogue with the European Commission and hope for the prompt introduction of effective safeguards. Currently, there is no effective protection. At the same time, we are doing everything within our control to strengthen our competitiveness.”

The European market for grain-oriented electrical steel is currently under severe pressure. This is due to unchecked increases in import volumes at prices that are significantly below average production costs in the EU. Imports have tripled since 2022 and rose by a further 50 per cent in 2025; they are now estimated to account for over 50 per cent of the European market volume. These developments have led to a dramatic reduction in order volumes and, consequently, to significant underutilisation of European production facilities. Nevertheless, the market for grain-oriented electrical steel remains attractive: according to market studies, global demand is set to triple by 2050.

thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel is one of Europe's two remaining producers of grain-oriented electrical steel, a specialized material for applications in the energy industry. The material is used, for example, in transformers for substations and wind turbines. In short, it is essential for transmitting electricity from the power plants where it is generated all the way to the household outlet. Without high-performance electrical steel strip, this process simply cannot take place – the material is irreplaceable. To ensure that power transport is as efficient and low-loss as possible, special grades – referred to as top grades – are required. These grades are produced through a technologically advanced manufacturing process. thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel is one of the few companies worldwide capable of producing such top grades, making it a key technology partner across the entire electricity value chain. Grain-oriented electrical steel is vital to the energy transition: maintaining a strong European production base strengthens the resilience and security of the region's energy supply and is therefore essential to Europe's strategic autonomy.