A large proportion of global demand for steel is accounted for by small and medium-sized customers who are unable to process minimum order quantities for direct sales from the steelworks. These companies use the steel trade for their procurement. In order to be in direct contact with the majority of its end customers, it makes sense to operate its own trading activities.

For this reason, the companies of the Salzgitter Group have maintained their own sales organizations since their beginnings, which are now concentrated in the Trading Division. Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH, founded in Düsseldorf in 1958, is the lead company of the Trading Business Unit. The core element of the segment is the Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel Group. Together with Universal Eisen und Stahl GmbH, which specializes in heavy plate, it ensures the international presence of the Salzgitter Group.