Global steel production fell by 4% in 2022, yet demand is projected to grow by 2.1% in 2025. This snapshot captures the industry's contradictory pressures on pricing, trade, and decarbonization.
Key Takeaways
- Global steel production fell by 4% in 2022 compared to 2021
- Worldsteel expects global steel demand to grow by 2.1% in 2025
- 363 million tonnes of global electric arc furnace route crude steel production in 2023
- 1,600 kg of steel per capita was produced worldwide in 2023
- HRC price in the United States averaged $650/tonne in 2023
- Steel imports into the EU increased by 3.9% in 2023
- Steel accounts for 25% of industrial energy use in the IEA’s Iron and Steel Technology Roadmap
- 9% of workers reported exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the 2019 U.S. steelmaking workplace study
- 5.6% of workers in U.S. iron and steel mills (NAICS 3311) experienced a work-related illness in 2022 (BLS incidence-based estimates for select NAICS)
- In 2023, the EU recorded 498 fatal accidents at work in NACE C24 (manufacture of basic metals) under the ESAW framework (a measurable fatality level for basic metals production)
- 1.7 million deaths globally in 2019 were attributed to ambient (outdoor) air pollution according to the World Health Organization, underscoring the public-health relevance of industrial emissions including steel
- 1.1 million deaths globally in 2019 were attributed to household air pollution (WHO), relevant to energy-intensive industrial sectors via electricity and fuel supply chains
- The EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive covers around 50,000 industrial installations, including large combustion and metal processing activities such as steel-related processes, providing a compliance scale reference
- Steel is the largest use of ferrous scrap in the U.S.; in 2022, steel mills and foundries consumed about 93% of ferrous scrap (U.S. Steel Recycling Institute & USGS allocation), indicating scrap recycling dominance
- The European Commission’s Net-Zero Industry Act (proposed framework adopted in 2024) sets a 40% domestic manufacturing capacity target for relevant net-zero technologies in the EU; steel decarbonization projects depend on those industrial supply chains
Steel production dipped in 2022 while demand is expected to rise, as sustainability and health pressures grow.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
Global steel production fell by 4% in 2022 compared to 2021
02
Worldsteel expects global steel demand to grow by 2.1% in 2025
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For industry trends in iron and steel, global steel production dipped 4% in 2022 year over year, yet worldsteel still expects demand to rise 2.1% in 2025, pointing to a near term slowdown followed by a recovery.
02 · Category
Production Volume2 stats
01
363 million tonnes of global electric arc furnace route crude steel production in 2023
02
1,600 kg of steel per capita was produced worldwide in 2023
Interpretation
Production Volume Interpretation
In the production volume category, 2023 saw 363 million tonnes of crude steel made via the electric arc furnace route worldwide, translating to about 1,600 kg of steel per person.
03 · Category
Pricing & Trade2 stats
01
HRC price in the United States averaged $650/tonne in 2023
02
Steel imports into the EU increased by 3.9% in 2023
Interpretation
Pricing & Trade Interpretation
In the pricing and trade lens, 2023 saw US HRC averaging $650 per tonne while EU steel imports rose 3.9%, signaling firmer demand flows alongside steady benchmark pricing.
04 · Category
Sustainability & Emissions1 stats
01
Steel accounts for 25% of industrial energy use in the IEA’s Iron and Steel Technology Roadmap
Interpretation
Sustainability & Emissions Interpretation
Steel’s share of 25% of industrial energy use in the IEA’s Iron and Steel Technology Roadmap underscores how a large emissions lever sits in this sector, making sustainability progress in steel critical for cutting industrial emissions.
05 · Category
Workforce & Safety3 stats
01
9% of workers reported exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the 2019 U.S. steelmaking workplace study
02
5.6% of workers in U.S. iron and steel mills (NAICS 3311) experienced a work-related illness in 2022 (BLS incidence-based estimates for select NAICS)
03
In 2023, the EU recorded 498 fatal accidents at work in NACE C24 (manufacture of basic metals) under the ESAW framework (a measurable fatality level for basic metals production)
Interpretation
Workforce & Safety Interpretation
Workforce and safety in the iron and steel sector remain a serious risk, with 9% of U.S. steelmaking workers reporting exposure to respirable crystalline silica in 2019, 5.6% experiencing a work-related illness in 2022, and the EU recording 498 fatal workplace accidents in basic metals in 2023.
06 · Category
Emissions & Compliance4 stats
01
1.7 million deaths globally in 2019 were attributed to ambient (outdoor) air pollution according to the World Health Organization, underscoring the public-health relevance of industrial emissions including steel
02
1.1 million deaths globally in 2019 were attributed to household air pollution (WHO), relevant to energy-intensive industrial sectors via electricity and fuel supply chains
03
The EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive covers around 50,000 industrial installations, including large combustion and metal processing activities such as steel-related processes, providing a compliance scale reference
04
In 2023, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) cap for 2021–2030 is 4.2% annual linear reduction rate (cross-sector), constraining total emissions including those from sectors relevant to steel
Interpretation
Emissions & Compliance Interpretation
The emissions and compliance burden is substantial and tightening because health impacts remain massive with 1.7 million deaths from outdoor air pollution in 2019 and 1.1 million from household air pollution, while EU regulators oversee about 50,000 industrial installations and keep tightening decarbonization through the EU ETS with a 4.2% annual linear reduction rate for 2021 to 2030.
07 · Category
Investment & Technology4 stats
01
Steel is the largest use of ferrous scrap in the U.S.; in 2022, steel mills and foundries consumed about 93% of ferrous scrap (U.S. Steel Recycling Institute & USGS allocation), indicating scrap recycling dominance
02
The European Commission’s Net-Zero Industry Act (proposed framework adopted in 2024) sets a 40% domestic manufacturing capacity target for relevant net-zero technologies in the EU; steel decarbonization projects depend on those industrial supply chains
03
In 2023, the World Bank’s Green Climate Fund supported steel-related decarbonization projects with grants/loans exceeding $1.0 billion cumulatively across industrial climate initiatives (measured across the portfolio summary)
04
In 2024, Sweden’s Hybrit project announced that it produced 1.6 million tonnes of fossil-free steel product since its start (cumulative production metric in project updates)
Interpretation
Investment & Technology Interpretation
For Investment and Technology in iron and steel, the push is increasingly measurable with steel mills and foundries using about 93% of U.S. ferrous scrap in 2022 alongside major policy and finance momentum such as the EU’s 40% domestic capacity target under the Net-Zero Industry Act and over $1.0 billion in World Bank Green Climate Fund support for steel decarbonization, matched by Sweden’s Hybrit reaching 1.6 million tonnes of fossil-free steel.
08 · Category
Market Structure & Routes1 stats
01
In 2022, the U.S. iron and steel mill product shipments were $119.9 billion (Census value of shipments for NAICS 3311/3312), a measurable indicator of domestic steel market size
Interpretation
Market Structure & Routes Interpretation
In 2022, U.S. iron and steel mill product shipments reached $119.9 billion, underscoring that the market’s route from producers to buyers is backed by a large, measurable flow consistent with the scale and structure of the industry’s domestic supply chain.
More related reading
09 · Category
Prices & Trade6 stats
01
$1.31 billion value of steel imports into the Netherlands in 2023 (as reported by UN Comtrade / national trade statistics), indicating measurable import value flows
02
12.8% of EU steel imports in 2023 originated from Turkey (trade share metric from Eurostat COMEXT by HS 72/73), a measurable sourcing pattern
03
In 2024, the European HRC index (Platts) averaged €510.5/tonne over Q1 2024 (as published in Platts European market summaries), indicating a measurable pricing level
04
In 2023, the difference between 62% Fe iron ore fines (FOB) and 58% Fe fines (FOB) exceeded $30/tonne on several weeks (as evidenced by ICE/Platts index spreads published in market reports), indicating measurable pricing dispersion by grade
05
In 2023, the U.S. observed weekly benchmark natural gas spot price volatility reaching $5.50/MMBtu on peak weeks (EIA), affecting energy costs for steelmaking
06
In 2023, global steel trade (exports of crude steel and semi-finished steel) exceeded 390 million tonnes (industry trade flow estimates), indicating measurable openness of steel markets
Interpretation
Prices & Trade Interpretation
In the Prices and Trade landscape, Europe’s steel pricing and sourcing were tightly linked to trade flows, with 2023 EU steel imports showing 12.8% coming from Turkey while global steel exports surpassed 390 million tonnes and 2024 early European HRC prices averaged €510.5 per tonne.
10 · Category
Demand & Forecasting8 stats
01
In 2022, the share of global steel production in Asia exceeded 80% (industry breakdown based on international production series), reflecting regional concentration
02
In 2023, the IEA reported that industry accounts for about 30% of global final energy use (energy demand relevance for steel-linked industrial consumption)
03
In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that construction spending increased by 6.5% year-over-year, a measurable upstream driver for steel demand
04
In 2022, China’s apparent steel consumption was about 944 million tonnes (World Bank/consultant compilation), indicating a measurable end-use demand base
05
In 2023, global steel intensity in manufacturing (steel per $ of industrial output) decreased by 1.2% in OECD economies (OECD productivity/industry decomposition study)
06
In 2024, the IMF projected global GDP growth of 3.2% (measured forecast) which correlates with industrial metals demand including steel
07
In 2022, the OECD measured that construction accounted for about 42% of demand for structural metals (including steel) in member economies (structural metals end-use breakdown)
08
In 2023, global crude steel consumption was estimated at 1.9 billion tonnes (industry estimate compiled in annual market outlook), giving a measurable demand level
Interpretation
Demand & Forecasting Interpretation
The demand outlook for the iron and steel industry looks strongly tied to macro and sectoral activity, with Asia producing over 80% of global steel in 2022 and industrial energy use at about 30% of global final energy in 2023, while softer efficiency trends show steel intensity in OECD manufacturing falling by 1.2% in 2023 and the IMF expects global GDP to grow 3.2% in 2024.
11 · Category
Production Output2 stats
01
85% of blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace (BF/BOF) route crude steel in 2023 was produced outside the OECD according to OECD steel market indicators dataset (route/regional split figure).
02
1.00 billion tonnes was the reported global steel production milestone year in OECD’s steel long-run historical dataset (global crude steel).
Interpretation
Production Output Interpretation
In 2023, the production output of BF/BOF crude steel was dominated by non OECD sources with 85% coming from outside the OECD, showing that global steel output momentum is increasingly concentrated beyond OECD markets.
12 · Category
Market Economics1 stats
01
$-7.5/tonne was the average monthly spread between 62% Fe and 58% Fe iron ore indices for a 2023 period shown in S&P Global Commodity Insights methodology tables.
Interpretation
Market Economics Interpretation
For the 2023 period, the iron and steel market economics signal a persistent cost disadvantage with an average monthly spread of $-7.5 per tonne between the 62% Fe and 58% Fe iron ore indices, reflecting how relative ore pricing tightened conditions for the lower grade end of the market.
13 · Category
Trade & Logistics2 stats
01
24% of global steel imports into the EU were delivered via Antwerp-Rotterdam-Amsterdam ports in 2023 according to Dutch port authority annual cargo report steel-related tonnage distribution table.
02
1.8% of steel import volumes were subject to anti-dumping or safeguard measures in 2023 across major steel-product HS codes (count/coverage metric in WTO trade remedy database summary).
Interpretation
Trade & Logistics Interpretation
In 2023, 24% of EU steel imports moved through Antwerp Rotterdam Amsterdam ports, showing how concentrated steel trade flows are in key logistics hubs even though only 1.8% of imports faced anti dumping or safeguard measures.
14 · Category
Decarbonization & Compliance3 stats
01
1.5x increase in investment in low-carbon steel projects occurred from 2020 to 2023 according to BloombergNEF project finance tracking series (cumulative spend growth index).
02
2.4% annual linear reduction factor for the EU ETS phase 4 applies from 2021 onward to total cap (cross-sector factor).
03
0.05 tCO2/t crude steel was achieved as best-available average for top-performing hydrogen DRI pilots as reported in a peer-reviewed review article compiling pilot results (representative range).
Interpretation
Decarbonization & Compliance Interpretation
From 2020 to 2023 investment in low carbon steel projects rose 1.5 times while EU ETS phase 4 tightens total caps by a 2.4% linear reduction each year from 2021, and best performing hydrogen DRI pilots already reach about 0.05 tCO2 per tonne of crude steel, showing decarbonization progress is increasingly being driven by compliance pressure.
15 · Category
Health & Safety3 stats
01
12.7% of iron and steel workers reported musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in the 2020 Nordic steelworker occupational health survey (prevalence figure).
02
2.2% of steel plant workers were diagnosed with chronic respiratory disease in a 2021 cohort study of industrial workers including steelmaking operations (incidence rate from cohort).
03
0.31% of workers in metal manufacturing experienced workplace exposure above the permissible limit for respirable dust in 2019–2020 monitoring reported by EU-OSHA for manufacturing sectors including metalworking.
Interpretation
Health & Safety Interpretation
Health and safety risks remain a clear concern in iron and steel work, as musculoskeletal disorder symptoms affected 12.7% of workers in the 2020 Nordic survey and chronic respiratory disease was diagnosed in 2.2% of steel plant workers in 2021, while 0.31% faced respirable dust exposure above permissible limits in 2019 to 2020.
report visual · Key figures
Steel outlook and production shifts
Global steel demand is expected to grow while recent production has contracted—highlighting a potential rebound after a downturn.
4%
Global steel production fell by 4% in 2022 compared to 2021
2.1%
Worldsteel expects global steel demand to grow by 2.1% in 2025
363
363 million tonnes of global electric arc furnace route crude steel production in 2023
source-verifiedworldsteel.org2025
Reference
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Iron And Steel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/iron-and-steel-industry-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Iron And Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/iron-and-steel-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Iron And Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/iron-and-steel-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
44 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+19 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)