Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe is pushing the European Commission for immediate trade protection measures to defend its domestic grain-oriented electrical steel production.

On April 1, the company backed an EU safeguard investigation into cheap Asian imports, which tripled since 2022 and soared by 50% in 2025.

To cope with this influx, Thyssenkrupp extended production cuts at its Isbergues and Gelsenkirchen facilities. Grain-oriented steel is essential for power grids, yet it currently avoids existing tariff-free quota reductions.

The steelmaker warns that roughly 1,200 jobs and Europe’s technological lead in energy transition materials face irreversible damage without a level playing field. A quick intervention is needed to ensure the long-term stability of European manufacturing.