The European Steel Association (EUROFER) said that the EU's apparent steel consumption increased by 0.9% in the first quarter of this year, compared to an increase of 3.6% in the fourth quarter of last year.

Axel Eggert, Director General of EUROFER, indicated that the recovery of steel downstream industries and steel demand will continue until 2021 although the overall economic recovery doesn't seem to balance and has the potential risk in the EU.

The import volume dropped by 5.4% and 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, respectively, which have fallen for nine consecutive quarters.