While Canada's steel industry produced nearly 13 million metric tons in 2022, powering over half a million jobs and generating billions for the economy, its true story is found not just in the impressive statistics but in the innovative and resilient people forging a sustainable future for this foundational sector.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Canada's crude steel production totaled 12.96 million metric tons, marking a 4.2% decrease from 2021
- Primary steel production in Canada reached 7.2 million tonnes in 2023 from electric arc furnaces
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco produced 4.5 million tonnes of steel slabs in 2022
- The Canadian steel industry employed 128,000 direct workers in 2022
- Steel sector supported 410,000 indirect and induced jobs across Canada in 2023
- Average annual wage in steel manufacturing was CAD 95,000 in 2022
- Canada exported 9.8 million tonnes of steel products in 2022, valued at CAD 14.2 billion
- US accounted for 92% of Canada's steel exports worth CAD 13.1 billion in 2023
- Steel imports to Canada totaled 7.5 million tonnes in 2022
- Canada's steel industry revenue was CAD 28.4 billion in 2022
- EBITDA margins for major Canadian steel firms averaged 15% in 2023
- Capital investments in steel sector totaled CAD 2.1 billion in 2022
- Canada's steel GHG emissions were 12 million tonnes CO2e in 2022
- Steel industry recycling rate for scrap reached 92% in 2023
- Water usage in steel production averaged 4 cubic meters per tonne
Canada's steel industry is a major employer producing millions of tonnes annually.
Economic Statistics
- Canada's steel industry revenue was CAD 28.4 billion in 2022
- EBITDA margins for major Canadian steel firms averaged 15% in 2023
- Capital investments in steel sector totaled CAD 2.1 billion in 2022
- Tax contributions from steel industry were CAD 4.2 billion in 2023
- R&D spending by steel producers reached CAD 250 million annually
- Steel supports 2.5% of manufacturing GDP in Canada
- Average return on assets for steel companies was 8.2% in 2022
- Debt-to-equity ratio averaged 0.65 for top steel firms in 2023
- Price of hot-rolled coil averaged CAD 1,200 per tonne in 2022
- Cost of production rose 12% due to energy prices in 2023
- Steel industry purchased CAD 12 billion in goods/services domestically
- Contribution to federal taxes was CAD 2.8 billion in 2022
- Provincial royalties from steel-related mining CAD 500 million
- Market cap of Stelco reached CAD 4.5 billion peak in 2022
- Algoma Steel market value CAD 1.2 billion post-IPO in 2023
- Energy costs represent 25% of steel production expenses
- Raw material costs 40% of total steelmaking expenses in 2023
- Labour costs accounted for 18% of operating expenses
- Profit before tax for sector CAD 3.1 billion in 2022
- Dividend payouts by steel firms totaled CAD 400 million in 2023
Economic Statistics Interpretation
Despite the fiery heat of their forges and a production cost gauntlet, Canada's steelmakers have proven to be solidly profitable pillars, flexing their muscles with billions in revenue, taxes, and investment while carefully balancing their books on a hot-rolled coil.
Employment Statistics
- The Canadian steel industry employed 128,000 direct workers in 2022
- Steel sector supported 410,000 indirect and induced jobs across Canada in 2023
- Average annual wage in steel manufacturing was CAD 95,000 in 2022
- Ontario steel mills employed 55,000 workers in 2021
- Quebec's steel industry had 22,000 employees in 2023
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco workforce numbered 5,000 in Hamilton as of 2022
- Stelco employed 2,200 people post-restructuring in 2023
- Algoma Steel had 2,000 employees in Sault Ste. Marie in 2022
- Steel fabrication sector employed 45,000 across Canada in 2021
- 15% of steel workers were women in 2023, up from 10% in 2010
- Apprenticeships in steel trades reached 5,000 active in 2022
- Labour productivity in steel manufacturing grew 2.1% annually 2018-2022
- Injury rate in steel industry was 1.2 per 100 workers in 2022
- 25,000 steelworkers unionized under United Steelworkers in Canada
- Indigenous employment in steel sector was 3% or 4,000 workers in 2023
- Youth under 25 comprised 12% of steel workforce in 2022
- Engineers and technologists numbered 15,000 in steel industry
- R&D staff in steel firms totaled 2,500 full-time equivalents in 2021
- Maintenance tradespeople made up 30% of steel plant staff in 2023
- Operators and assemblers were 40% of total steel employment
- Supervisors accounted for 8% of steel industry jobs in 2022
- Steel sector training investments reached CAD 100 million annually
- Turnover rate in steel manufacturing was 4.5% in 2023
- Remote work adoption in steel admin roles hit 20% post-COVID
- Contractors supplemented 10,000 regular steel jobs in 2022
- Steel industry contributed CAD 16.5 billion to GDP in 2022
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While often described as a monolithic backbone, Canada's steel industry is actually a surprisingly intricate, well-paid, and evolving ecosystem—still needing more diversity and safety, but undeniably forging the nation's economic skeleton with a unionized, highly skilled, and increasingly tech-forward workforce.
Environmental Statistics
- Canada's steel GHG emissions were 12 million tonnes CO2e in 2022
- Steel industry recycling rate for scrap reached 92% in 2023
- Water usage in steel production averaged 4 cubic meters per tonne
- CO2 emissions intensity improved 20% since 2015 to 1.8 tCO2/t steel
- EAF steelmaking reduces emissions by 70% vs. blast furnace
- Hydrogen pilot projects aim to cut 30% emissions by 2030
- Steel sector energy use was 45 PJ natural gas in 2022
- 85% of steel products recyclable at end-of-life
- Particulate matter emissions reduced 50% since 2005 regulations
- NOx emissions from steel plants totaled 15,000 tonnes in 2023
- SOx emissions cut to 5,000 tonnes annually via scrubbers
- Landfilled waste from steel ops <5% of total generated
- Biodiversity programs on 1,000 hectares around steel sites
- Decarbonization investments CAD 1 billion committed by 2030
- Renewable energy use in steel up to 15% electricity mix
- Carbon capture pilots sequester 100,000 tonnes CO2/year
- Water recycling rate 95% in modern Canadian steel mills
- Hazardous waste generation 0.5 kg per tonne steel produced
- Steel industry forest offset credits 500,000 tonnes CO2e
- Electric vehicles steel use drives 10% demand growth sustainably
- Blast furnace relining extends life reducing new builds emissions
- Community air quality monitoring stations at 20 steel sites
Environmental Statistics Interpretation
Despite boasting a 92% recycling rate and making impressive strides in cleaning its act with water recycling, emission cuts, and even forest offsets, Canada's steel industry still faces the colossal, carbon-heavy truth that its 12 million tonnes of annual GHG emissions are a towering challenge it must melt down with every tool from hydrogen pilots to sheer billion-dollar determination.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, Canada's crude steel production totaled 12.96 million metric tons, marking a 4.2% decrease from 2021
- Primary steel production in Canada reached 7.2 million tonnes in 2023 from electric arc furnaces
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco produced 4.5 million tonnes of steel slabs in 2022
- Stelco Inc. output was 2.6 million net tonnes of flat-rolled steel products in 2023 fiscal year
- Algoma Steel's production capacity stands at 2.8 million tonnes per annum post-DRI upgrade
- Canada's finished steel production was 11.8 million tonnes in 2021
- Hamilton, Ontario, hosts facilities producing over 50% of Canada's steel output
- Sault Ste. Marie steelworks produced 2.1 million tonnes in 2022
- Canada's pig iron production hit 4.1 million tonnes in 2020
- Direct reduced iron (DRI) production at Algoma reached 200,000 tonnes in 2023
- Steel plate production in Canada totaled 1.2 million tonnes in 2022 from major mills
- Hot-rolled coil output from Canadian mills was 5.3 million tonnes in 2023
- Cold-rolled steel sheets production stood at 2.1 million tonnes annually average 2019-2023
- Galvanized steel production in Canada reached 1.8 million tonnes in 2021
- Canada's steel scrap consumption for EAF was 8.5 million tonnes in 2022
- Blast furnace capacity utilization in Canada averaged 82% in 2023
- Electric arc furnace share of production rose to 55% in 2023
- Total steelmaking coal imports for Canada were 15 million tonnes in 2022
- Iron ore pellets used in steelmaking totaled 12 million tonnes in 2021
- Stainless steel production in Canada was 0.45 million tonnes in 2022
- Structural steel sections output reached 0.9 million tonnes in 2023
- Wire rod production from Canadian mills was 0.7 million tonnes annually
- Seamless pipe production capacity is 0.4 million tonnes per year at key plants
- Canada's steel industry energy intensity improved by 25% since 1990
- Mini-mill production share increased to 40% by 2023
- Integrated mill output dominated with 60% of total production in 2022
- Steel bar production totaled 1.1 million tonnes in 2021
- Canada's steel production per capita is 320 kg in 2022
- Rerollers processed 1.5 million tonnes of semi-finished products in 2023
- Apparent steel use in Canada was 18.2 million tonnes in 2022
Production Statistics Interpretation
Though Canada’s steel industry appears to be carrying the weight of the nation, producing enough for every citizen to have a personal bridge, its output still can’t quite keep up with its own appetite, leaving a 5-million-tonne gap between what it makes and what it uses.
Trade Statistics
- Canada exported 9.8 million tonnes of steel products in 2022, valued at CAD 14.2 billion
- US accounted for 92% of Canada's steel exports worth CAD 13.1 billion in 2023
- Steel imports to Canada totaled 7.5 million tonnes in 2022
- Top import sources: US (45%), China (15%), Brazil (10%) in 2023 steel trade
- Flat-rolled steel exports reached 6.2 million tonnes in 2022
- Steel pipe and tube exports valued CAD 2.1 billion in 2023
- Automotive steel exports to US hit 3.5 million tonnes annually
- Construction steel products exports grew 5% to CAD 1.8 billion in 2022
- Trade surplus in steel was CAD 7.5 billion in 2023
- Anti-dumping measures applied to 2.3 million tonnes of imports in 2022
- Steel tariff quotas with US filled 85% capacity in 2023
- Energy sector steel exports totaled CAD 3.2 billion to oil sands
- EU steel imports from Canada were 0.8 million tonnes under quota
- Mexico received CAD 500 million in Canadian steel exports in 2022
- Safeguard measures blocked 1.1 million tonnes of dumped steel in 2023
- Steel scrap exports reached 1.2 million tonnes valued CAD 600 million
- Finished steel use imported share was 42% of total in 2022
- Hot-dipped galvanized exports up 8% to 2.1 million tonnes
- Wire and wire products trade deficit was CAD 200 million in 2023
- Stainless steel exports totaled 0.3 million tonnes to US
- Steel trade with Asia grew 12% in value to CAD 1.5 billion
Trade Statistics Interpretation
While Canada’s steel industry enjoys a comfortable trade surplus, primarily due to its cozy and dominant relationship with the US market, it must vigilantly fend off dumped imports and diversify its global flirtations to avoid putting all its hard-hatted eggs in one continental basket.
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