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Swiss Steel Market Faces Uncertainty Amidst US Tariffs; Gerlafingen Activity Declines

Switzerland’s steel market faces potential disruptions due to newly imposed US tariffs, while domestic steel plant activity shows mixed trends. According to “Trumps US-Zölle im Liveticker: Schweiz mit Zoll von 39 Prozent belegt,” Switzerland is now subject to a 39% tariff on exports to the US. Further legal challenges to these tariffs, as detailed in “Trumps Zollpolitik: Darf der US-Präsident Zölle verhängen?,” create uncertainty for the market, though no direct impact on production could be established.

Bar chart and satellite map of steel production activity in Switzerland

The mean steel plant activity in Switzerland fluctuated between 27% and 45% from February to August 2025, ending at 39% in August. Stahl Gerlafingen steel plant saw a continuous decline in activity, reaching a low of 10% in August. Emmenbrücke Swiss Steel consistently showed high activity, ranging from 61% to 70%.

Stahl Gerlafingen, located in Solothurn, operates a 687 ttpa EAF-based steel plant focusing on semi-finished and finished rolled products, including profiles, rebar, and plates. The plant’s activity level has consistently declined since February, reaching a low of 10% in August. This trend is significantly below the mean Swiss steel plant activity and cannot be directly linked to the news articles regarding US tariffs, though such tariffs on exports to the US may indirectly impact decisions to reduce output.

Emmenbrücke Swiss Steel, located in Luzern, is an EAF-based steel plant. Its activity has remained consistently high, ranging from 61% to 70%, and does not show any immediate impact from the potential US tariff implications mentioned in “Trumps US-Zölle im Liveticker: Schweiz mit Zoll von 39 Prozent belegt,” or legal challenges described in “Trumps Zollpolitik: Darf der US-Präsident Zölle verhängen?”.

The imposition of a 39% tariff on Swiss steel exports to the US, as reported in “Trumps US-Zölle im Liveticker: Schweiz mit Zoll von 39 Prozent belegt,” creates a potential risk of reduced demand and oversupply within Switzerland, especially if Stahl Gerlafingen’s production is primarily for the US market. Legal uncertainty described in “Trumps Zollpolitik: Darf der US-Präsident Zölle verhängen?” exacerbates this risk.

Recommendations:

  • Steel Buyers: Closely monitor the legal challenges to US tariffs. Diversify procurement sources to mitigate potential domestic oversupply issues, especially for products similar to those produced by Stahl Gerlafingen (profiles, rebar, plates). Negotiate contract clauses that allow for price adjustments based on tariff changes and legal outcomes.
  • Market Analysts: Track Stahl Gerlafingen’s production levels closely. Monitor US legal proceedings related to the tariffs to assess potential market impacts and adjust forecasts accordingly. Analyze trade flows to identify potential shifts in export destinations for Swiss steel.