Key Takeaways
- Global apparent steel use in 2022 was 1,745 million tonnes, down 2.5% from 2021.
- China's apparent steel use in 2022 was 1,023 million tonnes, a 3.8% decline.
- EU apparent steel consumption in 2022 fell to 132 million tonnes, down 5.1%.
- The global steel industry employed approximately 3.2 million people directly in 2022.
- In China, the steel sector provided jobs to over 1.5 million workers in 2022.
- US steel industry employment stood at 83,600 in 2022.
- In 2022, global crude steel production reached 1,888 million tonnes, a 1.6% decrease from 2021, with China accounting for 1,013 million tonnes or 53.6% of the total.
- China's steel production in 2022 was 1,013.0 million tonnes, down 1.1% from the previous year.
- India produced 124.8 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, an increase of 6.5% year-over-year.
- Steel industry CO2 emissions totaled 2.0 billion tonnes in 2022, about 7-9% of global total.
- Global steel production emitted 1.85 tonnes CO2 per tonne of steel on average in 2022.
- China steel sector CO2 emissions were 1.8 billion tonnes in 2022.
- World steel exports in 2022 totaled 449 million tonnes, down 7.6% from 2021.
- China exported 47.5 million tonnes of steel in 2022, up 32.1%.
- Japan steel exports in 2022 were 51.1 million tonnes, up 11.3%.
In 2022, steel use fell globally while India and exports rose, and recycling drove lower metals impacts.
Consumption
Consumption Interpretation
Employment
Employment Interpretation
Production
Production Interpretation
Sustainability/Environment
Sustainability/Environment Interpretation
Trade/Exports
Trade/Exports Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Metal Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/metal-industry-statistics
David Sutherland. "Metal Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/metal-industry-statistics.
David Sutherland. 2026. "Metal Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/metal-industry-statistics.
Sources & References
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worldsteel.org
- Reference 2PUBSpubs.usgs.gov
pubs.usgs.gov
- Reference 3STATISTAstatista.com
statista.com
- Reference 4STEELsteel.org
steel.org
- Reference 5COPPERcopper.org
copper.org
- Reference 6AISTaist.org
aist.org
- Reference 7STEELsteel.gov.in
steel.gov.in
- Reference 8EUROFEReurofer.eu
eurofer.eu
- Reference 9JISFjisf.or.jp
jisf.or.jp
- Reference 10KOSPOkospo.or.kr
kospo.or.kr
- Reference 11ACOMIZILacomizil.org.br
acomizil.org.br
- Reference 12INTERNATIONAL-ALUMINIUMinternational-aluminium.org
international-aluminium.org
- Reference 13CHINALCOchinalco.com.cn
chinalco.com.cn
- Reference 14ICSGicsg.org
icsg.org
- Reference 15COCHILCOcochilco.cl
cochilco.cl
- Reference 16ILZSGilzsg.org
ilzsg.org
- Reference 17GAga.gov.au
ga.gov.au
- Reference 18INSGinsg.org
insg.org
- Reference 19ANTAMantam.com
antam.com
- Reference 20BLSbls.gov
bls.gov
- Reference 21IEAiea.org
iea.org
- Reference 22BIRbir.org
bir.org
- Reference 23BSRbsr.org
bsr.org
- Reference 24COPPERALLIANCEcopperalliance.org.uk
copperalliance.org.uk
- Reference 25NICKELINSTITUTEnickelinstitute.org
nickelinstitute.org
- Reference 26EPAepa.gov
epa.gov







