Canada’s steel industry is still moving on momentum you can measure, with ArcelorMittal Dofasco producing 4.5 million tonnes of slabs in 2022 and EAF output taking a bigger share as electric arc furnace production rose to 55% in 2023. Yet the pressure points are just as sharp, from energy costs making up 25% of steel production expenses to trade and pricing swings that keep costs and margins in constant tension. This post pulls together the latest Canada steel industry statistics so you can see how revenue, jobs, emissions cuts, and export numbers fit together.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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'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
- 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
- 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 generated CAD 28.4 billion in 2022, supporting jobs and taxes while cutting emissions through modernization.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Statistics20 stats
01
Canada's steel industry revenue was CAD 28.4 billion in 2022
02
EBITDA margins for major Canadian steel firms averaged 15% in 2023
03
Capital investments in steel sector totaled CAD 2.1 billion in 2022
04
Tax contributions from steel industry were CAD 4.2 billion in 2023
05
R&D spending by steel producers reached CAD 250 million annually
06
Steel supports 2.5% of manufacturing GDP in Canada
07
Average return on assets for steel companies was 8.2% in 2022
08
Debt-to-equity ratio averaged 0.65 for top steel firms in 2023
09
Price of hot-rolled coil averaged CAD 1,200 per tonne in 2022
10
Cost of production rose 12% due to energy prices in 2023
11
Steel industry purchased CAD 12 billion in goods/services domestically
12
Contribution to federal taxes was CAD 2.8 billion in 2022
13
Provincial royalties from steel-related mining CAD 500 million
14
Market cap of Stelco reached CAD 4.5 billion peak in 2022
15
Algoma Steel market value CAD 1.2 billion post-IPO in 2023
16
Energy costs represent 25% of steel production expenses
17
Raw material costs 40% of total steelmaking expenses in 2023
18
Labour costs accounted for 18% of operating expenses
19
Profit before tax for sector CAD 3.1 billion in 2022
20
Dividend payouts by steel firms totaled CAD 400 million in 2023
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics26 stats
01
The Canadian steel industry employed 128,000 direct workers in 2022
02
Steel sector supported 410,000 indirect and induced jobs across Canada in 2023
03
Average annual wage in steel manufacturing was CAD 95,000 in 2022
04
Ontario steel mills employed 55,000 workers in 2021
05
Quebec's steel industry had 22,000 employees in 2023
06
ArcelorMittal Dofasco workforce numbered 5,000 in Hamilton as of 2022
07
Stelco employed 2,200 people post-restructuring in 2023
08
Algoma Steel had 2,000 employees in Sault Ste. Marie in 2022
09
Steel fabrication sector employed 45,000 across Canada in 2021
10
15% of steel workers were women in 2023, up from 10% in 2010
11
Apprenticeships in steel trades reached 5,000 active in 2022
12
Labour productivity in steel manufacturing grew 2.1% annually 2018-2022
13
Injury rate in steel industry was 1.2 per 100 workers in 2022
14
25,000 steelworkers unionized under United Steelworkers in Canada
15
Indigenous employment in steel sector was 3% or 4,000 workers in 2023
16
Youth under 25 comprised 12% of steel workforce in 2022
17
Engineers and technologists numbered 15,000 in steel industry
18
R&D staff in steel firms totaled 2,500 full-time equivalents in 2021
19
Maintenance tradespeople made up 30% of steel plant staff in 2023
20
Operators and assemblers were 40% of total steel employment
21
Supervisors accounted for 8% of steel industry jobs in 2022
22
Steel sector training investments reached CAD 100 million annually
23
Turnover rate in steel manufacturing was 4.5% in 2023
24
Remote work adoption in steel admin roles hit 20% post-COVID
25
Contractors supplemented 10,000 regular steel jobs in 2022
26
Steel industry contributed CAD 16.5 billion to GDP in 2022
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Environmental Statistics22 stats
01
Canada's steel GHG emissions were 12 million tonnes CO2e in 2022
02
Steel industry recycling rate for scrap reached 92% in 2023
03
Water usage in steel production averaged 4 cubic meters per tonne
04
CO2 emissions intensity improved 20% since 2015 to 1.8 tCO2/t steel
05
EAF steelmaking reduces emissions by 70% vs. blast furnace
06
Hydrogen pilot projects aim to cut 30% emissions by 2030
07
Steel sector energy use was 45 PJ natural gas in 2022
08
85% of steel products recyclable at end-of-life
09
Particulate matter emissions reduced 50% since 2005 regulations
10
NOx emissions from steel plants totaled 15,000 tonnes in 2023
11
SOx emissions cut to 5,000 tonnes annually via scrubbers
12
Landfilled waste from steel ops <5% of total generated
13
Biodiversity programs on 1,000 hectares around steel sites
14
Decarbonization investments CAD 1 billion committed by 2030
15
Renewable energy use in steel up to 15% electricity mix
16
Carbon capture pilots sequester 100,000 tonnes CO2/year
17
Water recycling rate 95% in modern Canadian steel mills
18
Hazardous waste generation 0.5 kg per tonne steel produced
19
Steel industry forest offset credits 500,000 tonnes CO2e
20
Electric vehicles steel use drives 10% demand growth sustainably
21
Blast furnace relining extends life reducing new builds emissions
22
Community air quality monitoring stations at 20 steel sites
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, Canada's crude steel production totaled 12.96 million metric tons, marking a 4.2% decrease from 2021
02
Primary steel production in Canada reached 7.2 million tonnes in 2023 from electric arc furnaces
03
ArcelorMittal Dofasco produced 4.5 million tonnes of steel slabs in 2022
04
Stelco Inc. output was 2.6 million net tonnes of flat-rolled steel products in 2023 fiscal year
05
Algoma Steel's production capacity stands at 2.8 million tonnes per annum post-DRI upgrade
06
Canada's finished steel production was 11.8 million tonnes in 2021
07
Hamilton, Ontario, hosts facilities producing over 50% of Canada's steel output
08
Sault Ste. Marie steelworks produced 2.1 million tonnes in 2022
09
Canada's pig iron production hit 4.1 million tonnes in 2020
10
Direct reduced iron (DRI) production at Algoma reached 200,000 tonnes in 2023
11
Steel plate production in Canada totaled 1.2 million tonnes in 2022 from major mills
12
Hot-rolled coil output from Canadian mills was 5.3 million tonnes in 2023
13
Cold-rolled steel sheets production stood at 2.1 million tonnes annually average 2019-2023
14
Galvanized steel production in Canada reached 1.8 million tonnes in 2021
15
Canada's steel scrap consumption for EAF was 8.5 million tonnes in 2022
16
Blast furnace capacity utilization in Canada averaged 82% in 2023
17
Electric arc furnace share of production rose to 55% in 2023
18
Total steelmaking coal imports for Canada were 15 million tonnes in 2022
19
Iron ore pellets used in steelmaking totaled 12 million tonnes in 2021
20
Stainless steel production in Canada was 0.45 million tonnes in 2022
21
Structural steel sections output reached 0.9 million tonnes in 2023
22
Wire rod production from Canadian mills was 0.7 million tonnes annually
23
Seamless pipe production capacity is 0.4 million tonnes per year at key plants
24
Canada's steel industry energy intensity improved by 25% since 1990
25
Mini-mill production share increased to 40% by 2023
26
Integrated mill output dominated with 60% of total production in 2022
27
Steel bar production totaled 1.1 million tonnes in 2021
28
Canada's steel production per capita is 320 kg in 2022
29
Rerollers processed 1.5 million tonnes of semi-finished products in 2023
30
Apparent steel use in Canada was 18.2 million tonnes in 2022
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Trade Statistics21 stats
01
Canada exported 9.8 million tonnes of steel products in 2022, valued at CAD 14.2 billion
02
US accounted for 92% of Canada's steel exports worth CAD 13.1 billion in 2023
03
Steel imports to Canada totaled 7.5 million tonnes in 2022
04
Top import sources: US (45%), China (15%), Brazil (10%) in 2023 steel trade
05
Flat-rolled steel exports reached 6.2 million tonnes in 2022
06
Steel pipe and tube exports valued CAD 2.1 billion in 2023
07
Automotive steel exports to US hit 3.5 million tonnes annually
08
Construction steel products exports grew 5% to CAD 1.8 billion in 2022
09
Trade surplus in steel was CAD 7.5 billion in 2023
10
Anti-dumping measures applied to 2.3 million tonnes of imports in 2022
11
Steel tariff quotas with US filled 85% capacity in 2023
12
Energy sector steel exports totaled CAD 3.2 billion to oil sands
13
EU steel imports from Canada were 0.8 million tonnes under quota
14
Mexico received CAD 500 million in Canadian steel exports in 2022
15
Safeguard measures blocked 1.1 million tonnes of dumped steel in 2023
16
Steel scrap exports reached 1.2 million tonnes valued CAD 600 million
17
Finished steel use imported share was 42% of total in 2022
18
Hot-dipped galvanized exports up 8% to 2.1 million tonnes
19
Wire and wire products trade deficit was CAD 200 million in 2023
20
Stainless steel exports totaled 0.3 million tonnes to US
21
Steel trade with Asia grew 12% in value to CAD 1.5 billion
Interpretation
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.
Reference
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Canada Steel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-steel-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Canada Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canada-steel-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Canada Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-steel-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level