15 December 2025 – Raw material prices show a stable sideways movement at the start of the week. China will introduce export licences for certain steel products as of 1 January 2026. Gerber Group: Controversial exchange with the Commission on steel tariffs last Friday in Brussels.
Raw Material Prices Stable at the Start of the Week
Raw material prices on the Asian SHFE continued to show a stable sideways movement at the start of the week. Commodity contracts on the LME were also calm and largely stable at the opening of trading on Monday.
China Introduces Export Licences for Certain Steel Products
As of 1 January 2026, export licences will have to be applied for when purchasing steel from China. This was announced by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce last week.
The list published by the Ministry covers 300 steel-related customs codes and also includes the repeatedly hotly debated steel and stainless steel slabs.
Steel Slabs from China Very Popular with EU Steel Mills
Steel slabs from China have become one of the most popular imported products for European steel mills in 2025. In all likelihood, slab imports from China will amount to more than 1 million tonnes in 2025-almost a sevenfold increase compared to 2021.
Gerber Group: Controversial Exchange with the Commission on Steel Tariffs
The fact that the steel tariffs and import quotas proposed by the European Commission represent a serious problem for the competitiveness of the metal-processing downstream industry-especially for small and medium-sized enterprises-is something those responsible at the Commission do not like to hear.
Clear Commission Failures Highlighted
In a very direct discussion with the main officials responsible for drafting the steel tariffs and tariff quotas at the Commission in Brussels last Friday, 12 December 2025, we clearly and unambiguously pointed out the inexcusable failures the Commission has repeatedly committed in the past-and continues to commit-particularly with regard to SMEs.
This highly controversial exchange once again made it clear that Brussels technocrats neither understand the real world nor wish to do so. However, in summing up after the meeting, we can say that we did leave the participants on the other side with some serious question marks regarding their own actions.
Proposal on Steel Tariffs and Quotas Far Removed from Economic Reality
Thorsten Gerber, CEO of the Gerber Group, said after the meeting: “With economic reality, the Commission’s largely politically motivated proposal on steel tariffs and quotas has little to do. This is evident from the fact alone that no complete and robust impact assessment was carried out.” He continued: “The SME Toolbox, with its SME Test and SME Check, which is legally required but once again left unused, is further proof that the Commission is acting unilaterally and exclusively in favour of domestic steel producers who are unwilling to adapt.“
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