Spanish Steel Output Rises 13.3% in March

UNESID

Recycled Scrap Use Also Surges 17.4% Month-on-Month

First-Quarter Production Climbs to 3.28 Million Tons

Spain’s steel production reached 1.19 million metric tons (mt) in March, up 13.3% from February and 17.0% year-on-year, according to the Spanish steelmakers association UNESID. The figures reflect a strong rebound in domestic steel activity as the industry stabilizes after prior volatility.

In the first quarter of 2025, total Spanish steel output reached 3.28 million mt, up from 2.91 million mt in the same period of 2024, marking a solid 12.7% increase.

Scrap Steel Consumption Also Climbs Sharply

March also saw a significant boost in scrap metal recycling, with 977,000 mt of scrap processed—up 17.4% month-on-month and 15.8% year-on-year. For the first quarter, the scrap recycling volume stood at 2.61 million mt, underscoring the Spanish industry's growing reliance on electric arc furnace (EAF) production and circular economy practices.

The data suggests improving steel demand across key sectors such as construction and automotive, even as broader EU steel markets continue facing overcapacity and pricing pressures.