 |
| Italian Steel Production |
Italian steel production dropped sharply in August 2025, marking its lowest monthly volume this year.
August Production Hits 821,000 Tons – Sharpest Monthly Decline in 2025
Italy’s steel production in August 2025 plunged to 821,000 tons, its lowest monthly level of the year, according to Federacciai data reported by SteelOrbis. The focus keyphrase "Italy steel production August 2025" appears central to this trend. This figure represents a 52.4% drop from July, although still 7.3% higher year-on-year.
Flat steel output stood at 289,000 tons in August, down significantly from 732,000 tons in July. Meanwhile, long steel production fell to 437,000 tons, compared to 1.1 million tons in July. The declines reflect seasonal shutdowns, subdued domestic demand, and persisting headwinds in the automotive and industrial sectors.
YTD Growth Offers Limited Reprieve Despite August Slump
Despite August’s setback, Italy's January–August steel production rose 3% y/y to 13.66 million tons. This was buoyed by earlier gains in H1 2025. Specifically, flat steel production totaled 5.9 million tons during this period, up 4% y/y, while long steel output reached 8 million tons, a 2.7% increase over the same period in 2024.
However, the 2024 annual figures tell a different story. Italy’s full-year output fell by 5% to 20 million tons, driven by high energy costs, weak export competitiveness, and increased imports from Asia and Turkey. Flat steel production declined 9.7% to 8.6 million tons in 2024, due largely to sluggish demand from OEMs and white goods manufacturers.
EU Steel Outlook: Recovery Still Uneven
In contrast, EU steel production grew 2.6% y/y in 2024, reaching 129.5 million tons. Italy’s performance remains below the EU average, underscoring structural challenges in its domestic market. Global steel output fell by 0.9% y/y to 1.84 billion tons, indicating broader stagnation despite localized recovery in regions like India and the Middle East.
Italy steel production August 2025 acts as a bellwether for southern Europe’s broader industrial momentum. While long product output remains relatively resilient—thanks to robust construction activity—the ongoing weakness in flat products reflects persistent structural overcapacity and import pressure.
ScrapInsight Commentary
Italy's August production low signals both cyclical seasonality and deeper structural challenges in its flat steel segment. While long steel shows resilience, particularly from construction demand, flat products face continued stress from weak OEM orders and cheap imports. Barring policy intervention or a rebound in automotive output, Italian producers may continue operating below capacity through Q4 2025.
