In a letter addressed to the Director-Generals of the European Commission, industriAll Europe highlighted that the European silicon metal and manganese industries serve as pillars of Europe’s industrial base and the energy transition, supplying key inputs for steel, aluminium, electronics, photovoltaics, batteries and other future-technologies.

Over the past five years, industries have been severely hit by multiple-shocks: the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring energy prices and global over-capacity. Domestic production has collapsed to the point where the EU now covers only 15 % of its own silicon needs – with a staggering 85 % reliant on imports, largely from China.

Several plants have already suspended operations; many remaining sites are functioning at minimal output or face imminent closure. Thousands of skilled jobs are at serious risk. This is not merely an economic issue — it amounts to a strategic erosion of Europe’s ability to secure materials vital for both the green and digital transitions, as well as to maintain knowledge and value chains on European soil.

The largest European silicon-metal producer, Ferroglobe, has announced its intention to suspend all silicon production in Europe unless immediate protective measures are introduced. The decision is attributed to collapsing demand and falling prices, primarily driven by low-cost, carbon-intensive imports. The suspension is described as “an unequivocal signal of the threat to Europe’s industrial base and strategic autonomy”.

It is highly important to distinguish between unfair trade practices and imports from countries that are fully integrated within the European industrial value chain. Specifically, Norway, Iceland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina should be exempted from any safeguard measures, as their industries are closely aligned with EU standards and supply chains, and contribute positively to Europe’s strategic autonomy. 

At a time when the EU is striving to bolster strategic autonomy over critical raw materials, it would be “paradoxical” to allow imports at dumping-level prices — driven by global over-capacity and unfair trade practices — to dismantle Europe’s remaining production capacity.

IndustriAll Europe calls for robust safeguard measures for silicon and manganese alloys to prevent irreversible plant closures, large-scale job losses and the collapse of a sector essential to Europe’s future. We call on the European Commission to enter into constructive that leads to immediate action, necessary to preserve Europe’s last remaining production sites, jobs and industrial expertise.