EU imposes quotas to curb imports of ferro-alloys (updated)

Elkem ASA

18/11/2025 11:43

EU set to curb imports with 75% quotas

Imports surge led to market injury, EU finds

Norway and Iceland not exempted from quotas, Ukraine is

Updates Norwegian reaction in paragraphs 13-14

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The European Union set import quotas on Tuesday on alloys of steel containing manganese or silicon to protect domestic producers against a surge of cheap imports.

The measures will last for three years and consist of country-specific quotas per type of ferro-alloy, limiting the volume of imports that can enter the EU duty-free.

Imports beyond the quotas, which were set at 75% of 2022-2024 imports, may enter without duties if prices exceed established thresholds. If not, a tariff will apply to bring the final price up to the threshold.

"The EU cannot afford to let a strategic industry collapse under the weight of rising import pressures," European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said in a statement, adding that the measures were necessary to defend EU industrial resilience.

IMPORTS SURGED, EU MARKET SHARE FELL

The European Commission, which carried out an investigation, said that imports increased by 17% between 2019 and 2024 and the market share of EU producers fell to 24% from 38%. It concluded the surge of imports harmed EU industry.

Sector body Euroalliages said EU companies were struggling to compete with exporters from China, India and Kazakhstan that sold at significantly lower prices.

The EU has designated manganese and silicon metal as critical raw materials. They are used to make steel stronger and more resistant to corrosion for the construction, automotive, aerospace sectors and in military applications, on which many EU countries are boosting spending.

The measures followed a complaint by France, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Spain, where the main EU producers are based.

The safeguard measures also apply to Norway and Iceland, the source of about half of imports. The Commission said it would hold consultations with both countries every three months and would review the measures.

The two countries represent 43% of EU imports, an EU official said.

Norway's Elkem ELK.OL, which exports some 160,000 metric tons of ferro-silicon products to the EU per year from its Norwegian and Icelandic plants, said it aimed to shift some volumes to other markets.

"We also expect the reduction in sales volume to the EU to be compensated by increased EU market prices," Elkem said in a statement, adding the impact on earnings would depend on the extent of any price rise.

The Norwegian government disagrees with the EU move and considers it should not apply to Norway, Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth said.

Norway will see how to best secure the interests of its industry in the next council of the European Economic Area, which includes the EU, Norway and other European countries, to be held on Thursday in Brussels, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said.

Ukraine is excluded from the quotas as its producers represent only 4% of the EU's total imports.

Manganese and silicon-based alloy elements are also used in aluminum production and a small share goes to the chemical sector, often for use in solar panels.

 (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Terje Solsvik Inti Landauro and Alessandro Parodi. Editing by Joe Bavier and Mark Potter)

 ((Alessandro.Parodi@thomsonreuters.com;))