"Lower Saxony is a strong steel state and home of the GMH Group. What we need here, for the steel industry to be sustainable and competitive as an innovative sector at the gateway of diverse value creation chains, are fair general conditions. This applies in particular to defence against the effects of US punitive tariffs or the still existent excess capacities for steel in countries like China. Both lead to growing import pressure in Europe, which we are also noticing in Lower Saxony.

This also applies to energy and climate politics, which is putting the energy-intensive steel industry under increasing pressure. Rising network charges are a key example of this. On the European level, one-time costs are added by emissions trading that directly affect energy-intensive operations in Lower Saxony and thereby the GMH Group as well. This affects steel sites like Georgsmarienhütte, which has taken on a forerunner role in environmental protection as well as production and resource efficiency.

We welcome that the state government of Lower Saxony, together with other steel producing federal states, has recognised the relevance of these challenges and is advocating for fair general conditions and strengthening competitiveness in the domestic steel industry."