At the beginning of winter 2025, the industry finds itself at the intersection of two key trends: the active use of secondary materials and the gradual transition to new steelmaking technologies.
Slag recycling gains momentum.
According to EUROSLAG, in 2024 the EU recycled 92% of steelmaking slags. Out of 38 million tonnes generated, 35 million tonnes were reused in industry and construction. In particular, 21.5 million tonnes of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) were used in cement production, while 1.5 million tonnes of Air-Cooled Slag (ACS) served as aggregate in concrete and road building. This helped reduce natural rock extraction and avoided more than 11 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, making a significant contribution to Europe’s decarbonisation efforts.
Source: EUROSLAG, Recycling Magazine
DRI reshapes the slag market.
According to GMK Center, the EU reduced imports of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) by 26.2% year-on-year in January–September 2025, down to 1.54 million tonnes. Italy, Austria and Spain remain the largest importers, while Germany and the Netherlands sharply cut purchases.
Analysts warn that the spread of DRI technology and the shift to electric arc furnaces reduce pig iron production and, consequently, the generation of GBFS, which is critical for the cement industry. This creates a risk of shortage of a strategic material, potentially affecting cement market stability and construction costs.
Source: GMK Center, IndexBox
Conclusion
GBFS and ACS remain strategic resources, but their availability is decreasing due to the transition to DRI. The future of the industry depends on finding a balance between environmental ambitions and economic viability, ensuring stable supplies of materials for production.