The Italian electric steel sector urgently requires support, as discussed in a meeting between representatives of Federacciai, the Italian steelmakers' association, and Minister of Enterprises and Production Adolfo Urso.

Despite being a European leader in decarbonization, Italy's steel industry faces significant challenges, including high energy costs and a low ETS indirect cost compensation budget, jeopardizing its global market sustainability. Federacciai raised concerns about current and future scrap shortages, advocating for its classification as a strategic raw material to ensure stable, affordable supplies. They also suggested maintaining scrap exports to non-Kyoto Protocol countries and warned against building new electric arc furnaces without a secure raw material supply.

Minister Urso underscored the strategic importance of the steel industry and pledged government efforts to support it. Federacciai President Antonio Gozzi highlighted the need for stronger market protection against unfairly subsidized imports. From January to April 2024, Italian steel production fell by 6% to 7.1 million tons compared to the same period in 2023.