EU crude steel production plummeted to 125.8 million metric tons in 2025, marking an unprecedented nadir. This decline occurred concurrently with a 4.4% increase in apparent steel consumption, primarily satisfied by a 14% surge in imports that captured a 30% market share. The sector has shed 30,000 jobs over five years. The EU introduced stricter safeguard measures in July 2026 to combat this import dependency.