Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Germany
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Krefeld (North Rhine-Westphalia), Dillenburg (Hesse)
Sector
Manufacturing
(24 - 25) Manufacture of metals
24.1 - Manufacture of basic iron and steel and of ferro-alloys
24.1 - Manufacture of basic iron and steel and of ferro-alloys

180 - 300 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
1 October 2025
Employment effect (start)
1 October 2025
Foreseen end date
31 December 2027

Description

Finnish steel company Outokumpu moved forward with its restructuring programme aimed at reducing operational costs. The German Metalworkers’ Union (IG Metall) has already agreed with the company to cut around 180 jobs in Krefeld.

Outokumpu's restructuring aims to reduce fixed costs and improve efficiency of its processes and production. A decrease in demand for stainless steel and low-price competition from Asia require the company to reorganise its business and lower costs.

The job cuts are part of a larger job reduction programme, mostly affecting its European sites. Overall, some 650 EU jobs are to be shed by the end of 2027, registered by the ERM (Outokumpu 2025 - EU . Roles in administrative departments and sales are particularly under review.

Updated, 11/11/2025: It has now become known that Outokumpu plans to cut jobs not only in Krefeld but also at its site in Dillenburg, Hesse. 65 of the 550 positions there will be affected, as two production lines are to be closed. In addition, 50 more jobs are to be cut at the Krefeld site. This planned reduction is also part of the European job cuts, which will affect up to 650 positions in total.


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2025), Outokumpu, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 203477, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/203477.