Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel will fully shut its Isbergues, France, site from June to September 2026, extending an earlier 50% production cut introduced at the start of the year. The company says rising imports of grain-oriented electrical steel have sharply reduced orders and pushed European operations into severe underutilisation.

The company has called for stronger EU trade protection, arguing that some import prices are falling below European production costs. Thyssenkrupp also said the move is tied to protecting around 1,200 skilled jobs across its sites in Gelsenkirchen and Isbergues. Grain-oriented electrical steel remains a critical material for transformers, substations, and wind turbines, making the issue important for the wider energy and steel market.