Lower German steel scrap imports and exports in 2015

Germany – When compared with 2014, scrap steel purchases by German steelworks fell 3.4% last year to 14.3 million tonnes while domestic steel production totalled 42.6 million tonnes for a year-on-year decline of 0.6%.

Purchases by foundries fell 0.5% to approximately 3.38 million tonnes on a total production of 4.04 million tonnes. Germany’s scrap steel exports amounted to around 8 million tonnes or some 16% less than in 2014 while imports also dropped sharply – by 14% to 4.56 million tonnes.

Total domestic scrap generation exceeded 21 million tonnes last year but was almost 6% lower than in 2014. Usage of scrap in steel production amounted to approximately 18.5 million tonnes in 2015 (almost 3% down on 2014) while its use in foundries edged 0.4% lower to 5.46 million tonnes.