About us
The German Steel Association (Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl) represents the collective voice of Germany’s steel industry, which has pledged to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. This ambitious commitment has the potential to eliminate approximately one-third of Germany’s total industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
Founded in 1874 and based in Berlin, the association works to shape policy frameworks that support the transition to a climate-neutral steel sector while safeguarding its competitiveness. Germany leads steel production in Europe, with an annual output of approximately 37,2 million tonnes.
The industries represented by the German Steel Association form the backbone of numerous value chains, including automotive manufacturing and mechanical engineering. Steel plays a critical role in energy transition technologies, such as offshore wind turbines and electricity pylons. Notably, nearly 70 per cent of German exports are made up of steel-intensive products.
The association contributes its extensive expertise in energy, climate, economic, trade, environmental, and sustainability policies to dialogues at the federal, state, and EU levels. Through strategic communication initiatives, it ensures the steel industry’s role is well-recognised in the public domain.
The German Steel Association is an active member of key national and international organisations, including the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the European Steel Association (EUROFER), and the World Steel Association (worldsteel). As a co-initiator of the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), the association continues to support the initiative as an associated member. It also works closely with the Platform of Energy-Intensive Industries in Germany (EID) and the Alliance for the Future of Industry (Bündnis Zukunft der Industrie), and is an associated member of ResponsibleSteel.
Gunnar Groebler
President (honorary)
Chief Executive Officer of Salzgitter AG
Kerstin Maria Rippel
Director General
+49 30 23 25 546-0
kerstin.rippel@wvstahl.de
Facts and Figures about the Steel Industry in Germany
Locations
Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl
Französische Str. 8
10117 Berlin
+49 30 2325546-0
info@wvstahl.de
Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl
Rue Marie de Bourgogne 58
1000 Brussels
+32 2 8011387
florian.zweifel@wvstahl.de
Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl
Sohnstraße 65
40237 Düsseldorf
+49 211 6707-0
+49 211 6707-676
info@wvstahl.de