EU steel orders not yet back to pre-pandemic levels: Eurofer Steel orders in the EU are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, except in the automotive sector, where the rebound has been strong, European Steel Association market analysis director Alessandro Sciamarelli said. This is despite an industry-driven rebound in orders in Q3 and Q4 2020 and again in Q1 2021, the Eurofer official said. “Steel consumption [in the EU] is still at low levels in historic terms,” Sciamarelli said in a webinar presentation. “Apparent steel consumption has been falling since early 2019, well before the pandemic, reflecting a negative trend in steel demand, a manufacturing downturn and destocking.”