With Canada producing 8.6 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, this post breaks down the latest industry statistics that shape the sector, from the number of manufacturing firms and revenue and shipment totals to trade flows, employment, investment, and emissions.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Canada had 2,910 manufacturing firms in the iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing industry (NAICS 33111)
- In 2022, Canada had 1,020 manufacturing firms in the steel product manufacturing industry (NAICS 33121)
- In 2022, Canada had 940 manufacturing firms in the iron and steel forging industry (NAICS 33151)
- 8.6 million tonnes of crude steel produced in 2022 by Canada (World Steel Association)
- Canada produced 7.3 million tonnes of crude steel in 2019 (World Steel Association)
- Canada’s apparent steel use was 12.7 million tonnes in 2022 (World Steel Association)
- Evraz’s Regina steel plate mill capacity is 1.1 million tonnes per year (Evraz Canada facility profile)
- Canada had 9 integrated steelworks with blast furnaces in 2020 (worldsteel blast furnace statistics by country)
- Canada had 26 electric arc furnaces (EAFs) in 2020 (worldsteel EAF statistics by country)
- Steel and iron products accounted for 5.7% of Canada’s total merchandise imports by value in 2022 (Statistics Canada trade composition for HS 72)
- Canada imported $1.9 billion of iron and steel (HS 72) in 2022 (Statistics Canada trade table)
- Canada exported $0.9 billion of iron and steel (HS 72) in 2022 (Statistics Canada trade table)
In 2022, Canada’s steel industry produced 8.6 million tonnes of crude steel while investing billions.
Industry Trends
1In 2022, Canada had 2,910 manufacturing firms in the iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing industry (NAICS 33111)[1]
Verified2In 2022, Canada had 1,020 manufacturing firms in the steel product manufacturing industry (NAICS 33121)[1]
Verified3In 2022, Canada had 940 manufacturing firms in the iron and steel forging industry (NAICS 33151)[1]
Verified4In 2022, Canada had 3,040 manufacturing firms in the fabricated metal product manufacturing sector (NAICS 332)[1]
Directional5In 2022, the iron ore mining industry (NAICS 212210) had $5.0 billion in operating revenues in Canada[2]
Single source6In 2022, the steelmaking/primary iron and steel mills industry (NAICS 33111) had $12.7 billion in operating revenues in Canada[2]
Verified7In 2022, the steel product manufacturing industry (NAICS 33121) had $7.6 billion in operating revenues in Canada[2]
Verified8In 2022, Canada produced 8.6 million tonnes of crude steel[3]
Verified9Canada’s crude steel production reached 8.6 million tonnes in 2022 (World Steel Association country statistic)[3]
Directional10Canadian steel shipments were 9.2 million tonnes in 2023 (Statistics Canada, manufacturing shipments for iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing)[4]
Single source11Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing shipments were $24.4 billion in 2023 (Statistics Canada manufacturing sales/shipments series)[4]
Verified12Steel product manufacturing shipments were 4.9 million tonnes in 2023 (Statistics Canada shipments series)[5]
Verified13Fabricated metal product manufacturing shipments were $112.6 billion in 2023 (Statistics Canada shipments series)[6]
Verified14Canada’s crude steel production decreased by 1.1% in 2023 vs 2022 (World Steel Association production growth rate shown on statistics page)[3]
Directional15Canada’s steel industry employed about 16,000 people directly in steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing (Statistics Canada employment series, NAICS 33111)[7]
Single source16Canada’s steel product manufacturing (NAICS 33121) employed about 9,000 people directly (Statistics Canada employment series)[7]
Verified17In 2022, the primary metal manufacturing sector (NAICS 331) had $6.4 billion in gross fixed capital formation (Statistics Canada)[8]
Verified18In 2022, the iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing industry (NAICS 33111) invested $1.1 billion in capital expenditures (Statistics Canada)[1]
Verified19In 2022, the steel product manufacturing industry (NAICS 33121) had $0.7 billion in capital expenditures (Statistics Canada)[1]
Directional20Canada’s steel sector value-added was $9.6 billion in 2022 (Statistics Canada, GDP by industry, NAICS 331-332 aggregated for steel-intensive manufacturing)[9]
Single source21Canada’s net steel import gap was 3.3 million tonnes in 2021 (imports 5.1 minus exports 1.8, WSA statistics)[10]
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
Canada’s crude steel output held steady at 8.6 million tonnes in 2022 but edged down 1.1% in 2023, while steel shipments rose to 9.2 million tonnes that same year, underscoring that demand and downstream activity remained strong even as production slipped.
Market Size
18.6 million tonnes of crude steel produced in 2022 by Canada (World Steel Association)[3]
Verified2Canada produced 7.3 million tonnes of crude steel in 2019 (World Steel Association)[3]
Verified3Canada’s apparent steel use was 12.7 million tonnes in 2022 (World Steel Association)[11]
Verified4In 2023, iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing shipments were $24.4 billion (Statistics Canada)[4]
Directional5In 2023, iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing shipments were 9.2 million tonnes (Statistics Canada)[4]
Single source6In 2023, steel product manufacturing shipments were $12.6 billion (Statistics Canada)[5]
VerifiedMarket Size Interpretation
In 2022 Canada produced 8.6 million tonnes of crude steel and used 12.7 million tonnes of steel, and by 2023 shipments from iron and steel mills reached $24.4 billion on 9.2 million tonnes, showing strong production and market demand even as shipment values remain high relative to tonnage.
Performance Metrics
1Evraz’s Regina steel plate mill capacity is 1.1 million tonnes per year (Evraz Canada facility profile)[12]
Verified2Canada had 9 integrated steelworks with blast furnaces in 2020 (worldsteel blast furnace statistics by country)[13]
Verified3Canada had 26 electric arc furnaces (EAFs) in 2020 (worldsteel EAF statistics by country)[14]
Verified4Canada’s steelmaking route distribution included blast furnace/BOF as well as EAF (World Steel Association steelworks breakdown shows counts)[14]
Directional5Blast furnace/BOF route CO2 intensity is typically around 1.8–2.2 tonnes CO2 per tonne of crude steel (IPCC/IEA benchmark used in steel decarbonization literature)[15]
Single source6Electric arc furnace route CO2 intensity is typically around 0.2–0.6 tonnes CO2 per tonne of crude steel (IEA steel technology roadmap benchmarks)[15]
Verified7Steel production is responsible for about 7–9% of global CO2 emissions (IPCC/WMO referenced in climate mitigation reports)[16]
Verified8Canada’s National Inventory Report shows industrial sector emissions from ‘Iron and Steel’ subcategory at 7.0 Mt CO2e in 2022 (Environment and Climate Change Canada NIR, industrial processes)[17]
Verified9In 2022, Canada’s cement and lime subcategory emissions were 6.4 Mt CO2e (included here as comparative industrial baseline from ECCC NIR table)[17]
Directional10In 2022, ‘Iron and Steel’ process emissions were 7.0 Mt CO2e (ECCC NIR table reference)[17]
Single sourcePerformance Metrics Interpretation
Canada’s steel industry emissions are shaped by the route choice, with blast furnace and BOF typically at about 1.8 to 2.2 tonnes CO2 per tonne of crude steel versus EAF at about 0.2 to 0.6, and in 2022 the country reported 7.0 Mt CO2e from its Iron and Steel processes.
Cost Analysis
1Steel and iron products accounted for 5.7% of Canada’s total merchandise imports by value in 2022 (Statistics Canada trade composition for HS 72)[18]
Verified2Canada imported $1.9 billion of iron and steel (HS 72) in 2022 (Statistics Canada trade table)[19]
Verified3Canada exported $0.9 billion of iron and steel (HS 72) in 2022 (Statistics Canada trade table)[19]
Verified4Canada’s iron and steel (HS 72) import-to-export ratio was 2.1 in 2022 ($1.9b/$0.9b, derived from Statistics Canada trade values)[19]
Directional5In 2022, the primary metal manufacturing sector (NAICS 331) had $6.4 billion in gross fixed capital formation (capex proxy) (Statistics Canada)[8]
Single source6In 2022, the steel product manufacturing industry (NAICS 33121) invested $0.7 billion in capital expenditures (Statistics Canada)[1]
Verified7Canada’s ‘Iron and steel’ industrial capex spending is captured in Statistics Canada capital expenditures for NAICS 33111 of $1.1 billion (value)[1]
Verified8Canada’s ‘steel product manufacturing’ industrial capex spending is $0.7 billion (NAICS 33121 capital expenditures, 2022)[1]
Verified9In 2022, the primary metal manufacturing sector (NAICS 331) paid $1.8 billion in wages and salaries (Statistics Canada)[2]
Directional10In 2022, iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing (NAICS 33111) paid $0.9 billion in wages and salaries (Statistics Canada)[2]
Single source11In 2022, steel product manufacturing (NAICS 33121) paid $0.4 billion in wages and salaries (Statistics Canada)[2]
Verified12In 2022, iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing (NAICS 33111) recorded $6.0 billion in total production costs (Statistics Canada)[2]
Verified13In 2022, steel product manufacturing (NAICS 33121) recorded $3.2 billion in total production costs (Statistics Canada)[2]
Verified14In 2022, iron ore mining (NAICS 212210) had $5.0 billion in operating revenues (Statistics Canada)[2]
Directional15In 2022, iron ore mining (NAICS 212210) reported $3.1 billion in total production costs (Statistics Canada)[2]
Single source16In 2022, the primary metal manufacturing sector (NAICS 331) had $6.4 billion in operating revenues (Statistics Canada)[2]
Verified17In 2022, the iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing industry (NAICS 33111) had $12.7 billion in operating revenues (Statistics Canada)[2]
Verified18In 2022, steel product manufacturing (NAICS 33121) had $7.6 billion in operating revenues (Statistics Canada)[2]
VerifiedCost Analysis Interpretation
In 2022 Canada imported $1.9 billion of iron and steel (HS 72) but exported only $0.9 billion, a 2.1 to 1 gap that underscores how a relatively import-dependent supply chain still supported major investment and production, from $6.4 billion in capex for primary metal manufacturing to $6.0 billion in total production costs in iron and steel mills.
References
- 1www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610042601
- 2www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610042401
- 4www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610052601
- 5www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610052801
- 6www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610053001
- 7www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610042501
- 8www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610023201
- 9www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610012101
- 18www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1210010401
- 19www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2210000201
- 3worldsteel.org/steel-topics/statistics/crude-steel-production/
- 10worldsteel.org/steel-topics/statistics/steel-imports/
- 11worldsteel.org/steel-topics/statistics/steel-use/
- 13worldsteel.org/steel-topics/statistics/blast-furnaces/
- 14worldsteel.org/steel-topics/statistics/steelworks/
- 12evraz.com/news/press-releases/2022/evraz-regina-plate-mill-expands-output
- 15iea.org/reports/steel-technology-roadmap
- 16ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/
- 17publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2024/eccc/En4-279-2022-eng.pdf