DUESSELDORF, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Germany's IG Metall will demand 5 percent more pay for the 75,000 workers employed in the western German steel industry in the upcoming wage talks that begin on Friday.

The labour union said on Tuesday that the demand was 'fair' and the economic situation for German steelmakers was 'quite stable'.

Steelmakers ThyssenKrupp and Salzgitter suffered last year as production in the auto industry fell sharply to adjust for a 15 year low in the market.

(Reporting By Matthias Inverardi and Christiaan Hetzner) Keywords: GERMANY STEEL/

(christiaan.hetzner@thomsonreuters.com)(+49 - 69 - 7565 1249)(Reuters Messaging: christiaan.hetzner.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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