13 October 2025 – Are EU stainless steel mills planning to sell only on a contingents basis from 2026 in response to the European Commission’s new steel protection plans? Meanwhile, a fire at a US aluminium plant has halted 40% of the country’s automotive aluminium sheet production until at least Q1 2026.
Aluminium: Fire at US aluminium plant with major impact
Although the fire at the large aluminium facility in Oswego, New York, broke out in mid-September and damaged key production equipment, its full impact has only now been made public.
The Novelis plant is expected to remain offline until at least the first quarter of 2026, which will significantly affect around 40% of the US aluminium sheet production for the automotive industry.
According to media reports, the affected production hall sustained structural damage in the fire.
Stainless steel: Only contingents in the EU from mid-2026?
The European Commission’s announcement that it plans to introduce higher steel tariffs and significantly reduced import quotas from mid-2026 would, in its current form, also have a substantial impact on the availability of stainless steel in the EU.
According to market sources, some EU stainless mills are already sensing an opportunity and are reportedly considering offering their customers only contingent-based allocations once the new measures take effect.
Severely limited: EU stainless steel production capacity
Production capacity for stainless steel within the European Union has been below domestic demand for many years. The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s own research body, has repeatedly confirmed this in 2024 and 2025. According to the JRC, the EU must import up to 25% of its stainless steel needs to meet demand and has mentioned stainless in connection with the Critical Raw Materials Act.
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