Thyssenkrupp's Strategic Tightrope: Green Ambitions Versus Import Onslaught

Thyssenkrupp shares, closing at EUR 8.54, have surged over nine percent in the past week. This momentum reflects a complex narrative where strategic portfolio moves and green technology advances are being tested by severe market headwinds.

The industrial group continues to streamline its operations. In early April, it finalized the sale of its Automation Engineering unit to robotics specialist Agile Robots, with the business now operating as "Krause Automation." This divestment allows the company to sharpen its focus on more profitable core operations, including its forging business. This portfolio pruning coincides with significant activity in its remaining stake in TK Elevator. The main owners of the former elevator subsidiary are considering an initial public offering in the second half of 2026, a move that could value the company at up to EUR 25 billion. Due to recent market volatility, investors Cinven and Advent are also reportedly weighing a direct sale. Thyssenkrupp's remaining 16.2 percent stake could unlock substantial capital for reinvestment.

Operational wins are providing some support. The plant engineering segment Uhde recently secured a key order from POSCO E&C in South Korea to build a low-emission coke oven battery. Simultaneously, the steel division is supplying approximately 1,000 tonnes of CO2-reduced steel for a drinking water project in Luanda, Angola.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Thyssenkrupp?

Yet these strategic and operational bright spots are overshadowed by a pressing crisis in its core steel operations. A flood of cheap Chinese imports, particularly of grain-oriented electrical steel crucial for transformers and power grids, is forcing drastic measures. Since 2022, imports have tripled, rising another 50 percent in 2025. In response, Thyssenkrupp has implemented temporary production shutdowns at its plants in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and Isbergues, France, affecting around 1,200 employees. The company is urgently appealing to the European Commission for protective measures. While the EU Parliament has proposed a plan to cap import quotas and double tariffs, regular safeguards would not take effect before July 1, 2026—right when the affected plants are already idle.

Amid this immediate pressure, Thyssenkrupp is pushing forward with its long-term decarbonization vision. Starting April 13 at the Tube 2026 trade fair in Düsseldorf, it will showcase H?-optimized steels designed for hydrogen pipelines. The centerpiece of this green transition is a direct reduction plant under construction in Duisburg, slated to save up to 3.5 million tonnes of CO? annually. Construction of the DR tower began in February 2026, though the start-up timeline has been pushed back; instead of late 2026, the plant will now be ramped up gradually from the end of 2027.

Investors now face a pivotal few weeks. Thyssenkrupp is set to release its half-year report on May 12, 2026, with a parallel EU decision on steel tariffs expected in May or June. The equity remains significantly below its 200-day moving average of nearly EUR 10, indicating persistent market skepticism. The company's ability to navigate the dual challenges of a transformative green future and a punishing present will define its trajectory, with potential liquidity from its TK Elevator stake offering a crucial lever for investment and debt reduction.

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Thyssenkrupp Stock: New Analysis - 12 April

Fresh Thyssenkrupp information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.

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