The Union of Steel Companies (Unesid) has warned that the compensations for indirect CO2 costs planned for the Spanish steel industry in 2026 present a shortfall of 43 million euros, according to the employers' association.
In its analysis, the association points out that the proposed allocation of 157 million euros is 27% below the 200 million euros that the sector considers essential to preserve its competitiveness against other European producers.
In this way, it emphasizes that this shortfall "limits the capacity of companies to face increasingly high energy costs," deepening the disadvantage of the Spanish industry compared to its rivals in the European environment, where "most of the aid covers 100%, while Spanish companies must bear a larger part of costs that condition their production and investment decisions."
The business organization recalls that this mismatch occurs in a context of strong tension due to the escalation of energy prices linked to the current war situation.
In this scenario, the future of TTF gas for November is set at 88.90 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), 146% above the average of 2025, while the wholesale electricity price in Spain reaches 215.11 euros/MWh, more than tripling the average of the previous year.
Faced with this reality, the general director of Unesid, Carola Hermoso, has warned that Spanish steel companies "cannot compete on equal terms if they bear high energy costs and, moreover, receive compensations lower than those of their European competitors."
"We do not ask for preferential treatment, but for the aid to fulfill its purpose and allow industrial activity to be maintained in Spain," she added in this regard.
These compensations for indirect CO2 costs aim to mitigate the effect of the price of emission rights on the electricity bill and prevent companies exposed to international competition from relocating their production outside Europe.
On a provisional basis, the employers' association estimates that the energy overcost borne by the steel industry between March and December of this year is around 658 million euros, to which are added the high amounts associated with the adjustment services of the electrical system.
Unesid demands immediate actions
In the face of this situation, the general director of Unesid insisted on the urgency of implementing immediate and profound measures that "relieve the immediate pressure, but also an energy and industrial policy that guarantees stability and predictability."
"If we want to maintain production and investment in Spain, we must avoid having our companies compete with a starting disadvantage compared to other European facilities," she said.
Among the main demands of Unesid are the reinforcement of compensations for indirect CO2 costs, a budget planning that provides medium-term security, and the adoption of structural measures, such as consolidating the reduction of electricity tolls for electro-intensive consumers.