Czech steel production remained at historic lows in 2025. Output stagnated at 2.4 million metric tons, half of 2015 levels. A modest finished product increase came only from the Nová Huft plant restart. Demand remained the second weakest since 2009. Imports surged to 7.5 million tons, widening the trade deficit past 4 million tons. Industry leaders cite high energy costs, cheap imports, and volatile CO₂ prices as crushing pressures.