[Ferro-Alloys.com] The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association ACEA is extremely disappointed by the European Commission’s proposal to extend the restriction of steel imports into the EU. ACEA said “Continuing this safeguard measure disregards the interests of downstream users of steel, such as the automotive sector. The proposal to extend current restrictions by three years comes in the face of acute shortages in auto makers’ European steel supply chain. These shortages have led to a slowdown in manufacturing, requiring a constant crisis management of orders to avoid complete assembly line stoppages. Meanwhile, prices continue to surge to record highs on the European market. Producers now charge up to EUR 1,300 per tonne for automotive grades of steel. EU steel producers are dictating prices and reporting record earnings, the idea that domestic steel is under threat of serious injury from imports is scarcely credible.”

 

ACEA said “Automobile manufacturers source almost all their steel (over 90%) in the EU. Since manufacturing restarted in summer 2020 there has been a serious shortage of steel in the European market. The safeguard measure in place limits the potential of manufacturers to balance this through imports, acting as a lid on an already over-heated market. While the Commission does propose an expansion of the quota for certain automotive grades, the increase is so marginal that it will make no difference to the scarcity of supply or to the inflationary effect of the safeguard.”

 

ACEA Director General Mr Eric-Mark Huitema said “In a market where EU steel producers are dictating prices and reporting record earnings, the idea that domestic steel is under threat of serious injury from imports is scarcely credible. We need imports to fill supply chain gaps. If this proposal is approved by member states in its current form, then the market situation will remain critical for automobile manufacturers for the foreseeable future”.

 

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association ACEA represents the 15 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, CNH Industrial, DAF Trucks, Daimler, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault Group, Stellantis, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars, and Volvo Group.

 

Source: steelguru.com