Spanish Steel Manufacturer Ends Trade with Israel

(MENAFN) Sidenor, a leading Spanish steel manufacturer, announced on Tuesday that it will cease all trade with Israel, according to local reports. This move follows revelations last month by an Irish news outlet, which disclosed that Sidenor had delivered 1,207 tons of steel bars to Israeli arms manufacturer IMI Systems over a ten-month span beginning last August.

The Basque-based company, recognized as one of Europe's largest specialized steel producers, will now end all sales to Israel, as confirmed by a Spanish broadcaster.

Sidenor emphasized that the economic impact of the decision is minimal, as Israel represents less than 0.5% of the company's total sales. The company also clarified that the action aligns with Spain’s government stance on halting trade with Israel.

“Sidenor gave in to social pressure,” commented Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs, in a post on the social media platform Bluesky. Bustinduy further noted that he was still awaiting a response from the head of Spain’s business confederation regarding the government's call to “sever all ties between Spanish companies and the occupation, apartheid, and genocide of the Palestinian people.”

The Spanish government recently announced the suspension of all arms sales to Israel following its military actions in Gaza, although reports suggest some contracts are still active. Spain has been a vocal critic of Israel's offensive, which has resulted in more than 56,600 deaths and left countless others facing starvation.

In a broader political context, Spain moved last year to officially recognize Palestinian statehood. Additionally, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sharply criticized the European Union last week for its failure to halt its trade agreement with Israel, despite the "flagrant violations" of human rights outlined in the agreement's provisions.

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