Recent figures put UK steel in sharp focus, with recycling pushing to 88% in 2023 even as the workforce shows clear strain, including 42% of steel workers aged over 50. Behind the headlines, redundancies at Scunthorpe and Port Talbot sit alongside major decarbonisation targets and costly compliance pressures. This post gathers the key UK steel industry statistics so you can see how employment, production, emissions, and money flow together rather than in separate stories.
Key Takeaways
- The UK steel industry employed 31,900 people directly in 2022, down 4% from 2021
- In 2023, 42% of UK steel workers were aged over 50, indicating skills ageing
- British Steel employed 3,200 at Scunthorpe before 2023 redundancies of 2,000
- In 2022, UK steel Scope 1+2 emissions were 7.2 MtCO2e, down 5% from 2021
- Tata Steel UK emitted 4.1 MtCO2 from blast furnaces in 2022
- UK steel recycling rate reached 88% in 2023, highest in Europe
- UK steel industry turnover was £12.5 billion in 2022, down 10% from 2021
- Tata Steel UK reported £1.1 billion losses in 2022 due to energy costs
- British Steel turnover £1.4 billion in 2022, with £200m EBITDA pre-closure
- In 2022, UK crude steel production totalled 5.96 million tonnes, a decrease of 17.1% compared to 2021
- UK steel production capacity stood at approximately 9.5 million tonnes per annum in 2023, with primary production focused on electric arc furnaces
- In Q4 2022, UK steel production was 1.4 million tonnes, marking the lowest quarterly output since 2009
- In 2022, UK steel exports were valued at £2.8 billion, down 15% from 2021
- UK imported 5.2 million tonnes of steel products in 2022, 80% from EU and Asia
- In 2023, UK steel exports to EU accounted for 55% of total volume at 1.8 million tonnes
In 2022, UK steel jobs fell to 31,900 while output declined and emissions kept improving.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Labour26 stats
01
The UK steel industry employed 31,900 people directly in 2022, down 4% from 2021
02
In 2023, 42% of UK steel workers were aged over 50, indicating skills ageing
03
British Steel employed 3,200 at Scunthorpe before 2023 redundancies of 2,000
04
Tata Steel Port Talbot workforce was 8,000 in 2023, facing 3,000 job losses in green transition
05
UK steel industry's female workforce participation was 12% in 2022
06
Average UK steelworker salary was £42,500 in 2022, 25% above national average
07
In 2021, 15% of UK steel jobs were apprenticeships, totalling 4,800 trainees
08
Liberty Steel UK employed 5,000 across sites in 2023
09
UK steel supply chain supports 50,000 indirect jobs in 2022
10
Post-closure, Scunthorpe steel jobs fell from 2,700 to 800 in 2024
11
28% of UK steel engineers hold PhDs in 2023
12
Tata Steel UK training investment was £10m in 2022 for 2,000 workers
13
UK steel absenteeism rate was 5.2% in 2022 due to health issues
14
Celsa Steel UK employs 1,100 staff across Wales sites in 2023
15
60% of UK steel jobs require STEM qualifications in 2022
16
Union membership in UK steel was 75% in 2023, highest in manufacturing
17
Average steelworker overtime hours were 8 per week in 2022
18
Sheffield Forgemasters employed 650 specialist steel workers pre-acquisition
19
UK steel diversity: 8% BAME workforce in 2023, up from 5% in 2019
20
Port Talbot steel jobs supported 10,000 in local economy in 2022
21
3,500 steel jobs lost industry-wide since 2015
22
UK steel R&D staff numbered 1,200 in 2023
23
Average tenure for UK steel workers is 15 years in 2022
24
British Steel Teesside employs 450 in beam production
25
UK steel health & safety incident rate was 1.2 per 100 workers in 2022
26
20% of UK steel workforce is contracted via agencies in 2023
Interpretation
Employment and Labour Interpretation
The UK steel industry is an aging, highly-skilled, and well-compensated workforce, but its muscle is being eroded by a worrying exodus of jobs and a painful green transition, leaving its future looking less than forged in fire.
02 · Category
Environmental Impact26 stats
01
In 2022, UK steel Scope 1+2 emissions were 7.2 MtCO2e, down 5% from 2021
02
Tata Steel UK emitted 4.1 MtCO2 from blast furnaces in 2022
03
UK steel recycling rate reached 88% in 2023, highest in Europe
04
Energy intensity of UK steel production 14.5 GJ/tonne crude steel in 2022
05
British Steel Scunthorpe water usage 2.5 billion litres/year pre-closure
06
UK steel industry's CO2 per tonne fell 40% since 1990 to 1.5 tCO2/t in EAF
07
In 2023, 75% of UK steel made from recycled scrap
08
Tata Port Talbot hydrogen-ready DRI pilot captures 90% CO2
09
UK steel waste recycling rate 95% in 2022
10
Electricity decarbonisation could cut UK steel emissions 80% by 2030
11
Celsa UK scrap melt emissions 0.4 tCO2/tonne steel in 2023
12
UK steel ETS compliance costs £400m in 2022
13
Biodiversity net gain at steel sites: 20% improvement by 2025 target
14
Liberty Steel EAF emissions intensity 0.35 tCO2/t in 2023
15
UK steel H2 production trial: 50,000 tonnes green steel in 2024 pilot
16
SOX emissions from UK steel fell 70% since 2010 to 5,000 tonnes/year
17
Water recycling in UK steel plants 85% in 2022
18
UK steel CCUS potential 5 MtCO2 capture annually by 2030
19
NOx emissions per tonne steel 0.2 kg in modern EAFs 2023
20
Sheffield steel sites remediated 100 hectares brownfield in 2022
21
UK steel renewable energy use 25% of total in 2023, up from 15% 2020
22
Particle emissions from steel down 50% to 200 tonnes/year 2022
23
Green steel premium willingness £100/tonne by customers 2023 survey
24
UK steel landfill waste 1% of total output in 2022
25
EAF route avoids 1.4 tCO2/t vs BF in UK context 2023
26
Port Talbot transition plan: zero carbon by 2027 target
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
While the UK steel industry is still breathing industrial fire with 7.2 Mt of emissions, it's also quietly turning into a champion of circularity, slashing its carbon diet per tonne by 40% since 1990 and now recycling 88% of its metal, all while plotting a high-stakes escape from its own smokestacks through hydrogen, carbon capture, and a flood of clean electricity.
03 · Category
Financial Performance27 stats
01
UK steel industry turnover was £12.5 billion in 2022, down 10% from 2021
02
Tata Steel UK reported £1.1 billion losses in 2022 due to energy costs
03
British Steel turnover £1.4 billion in 2022, with £200m EBITDA pre-closure
04
UK steel sector investment in green tech £1.2 billion pledged 2021-2023
05
Average UK steel firm profitability margin was 2.5% in 2022
06
Liberty Steel UK debt restructuring £500m in 2023
07
UK steel R&D spend £250m in 2022, 2% of turnover
08
Energy costs for UK steel rose 300% to £2.5bn in 2022
09
Tata Steel Port Talbot received £500m government grant in 2023
10
UK steel exports revenue per tonne averaged £600 in 2022
11
Celsa Steel UK turnover £450m in 2022, EBITDA £50m
12
Industry-wide UK steel subsidies totalled £2.3bn 2016-2023
13
Average steel price index UK HRC £800/tonne in 2023 avg
14
British Steel capital expenditure £100m in 2022 on maintenance
15
UK steel tax contributions £1.8bn in corporation and payroll taxes 2022
16
Liberty Steel sales £2bn group-wide, UK £800m in 2023
17
Scrap input costs for UK EAF £350/tonne in 2022 avg
18
UK steel pension deficit £4bn industry-wide in 2023
19
Government energy support to steel £300m in 2022-23
20
Sheffield steel firms revenue £1.5bn combined in 2022
21
UK steel carbon price exposure £150/tonne CO2 in 2023
22
Tata Steel UK capex £300m annually pre-transition
23
Industry debt levels averaged 40% debt-to-equity in 2022
24
Rebar price UK £550/tonne average 2023
25
UK steel multiplier effect: £2.5 GVA per £1 turnover in 2022
26
Electricity price for steel £150/MWh avg 2022 vs £40 pre-crisis
27
UK steel sector contributed 1.2% to manufacturing GVA in 2022
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
The UK steel industry, a vital but feverish patient, shows its weakened pulse in a £12.5 billion turnover while its heart—a green transition backed by billions in pledges and grants—struggles to beat against the arrhythmia of crippling energy costs, razor-thin margins, and a mountain of historic debt.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production and Capacity30 stats
01
In 2022, UK crude steel production totalled 5.96 million tonnes, a decrease of 17.1% compared to 2021
02
UK steel production capacity stood at approximately 9.5 million tonnes per annum in 2023, with primary production focused on electric arc furnaces
03
In Q4 2022, UK steel production was 1.4 million tonnes, marking the lowest quarterly output since 2009
04
British Steel's Scunthorpe plant produced 2.8 million tonnes of steel in 2022 before its blast furnace closure
05
UK secondary steel production via electric arc furnaces accounted for 72% of total output in 2023
06
In 2021, UK steel slab production reached 6.2 million tonnes, up 20% from 2020
07
Port Talbot's steel production capacity is 5 million tonnes annually, primarily hot-rolled coil
08
UK steel production per capita was 89 kg in 2022, down from 100 kg in 2019
09
In 2023, UK steel billet production was 1.1 million tonnes
10
Celsa Steel UK's Cardiff plant has a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of reinforcing bar annually
11
UK steel rail production totalled 120,000 tonnes in 2022 from British Steel's Scunthorpe site
12
In 2020, pandemic-low UK steel production was 7.04 million tonnes
13
Liberty Steel's Rotherham plant produces 1.3 million tonnes of special long products yearly
14
UK heavy plate production was 450,000 tonnes in 2022
15
Tata Steel UK's total production capacity pre-transition was 10 million tonnes
16
In H1 2023, UK steel production averaged 1.45 million tonnes per quarter
17
Sheffield's steel production focuses on 500,000 tonnes of special steels annually
18
UK steel wire rod production was 300,000 tonnes in 2021
19
British Steel's Skinningrove plant produces 100,000 tonnes of sections yearly
20
In 2019 peak, UK produced 7.25 million tonnes of crude steel
21
UK stainless steel production was 140,000 tonnes in 2022
22
Tata Steel's Shotton site produces 0.5 million tonnes of coated products annually
23
UK structural steel section production totalled 800,000 tonnes in 2023
24
In 2022, energy use per tonne of UK steel was 15 GJ for EAF route
25
UK steel casting output was 250,000 tonnes in 2021
26
Liberty Steel Rotherham's EAF capacity is 1.5 million tonnes post-upgrade
27
UK merchant bar production reached 400,000 tonnes in 2022
28
In 2023, UK steel pipe production was 150,000 tonnes
29
Total UK steelmaking capacity post-Blast Furnace closures is 6 million tonnes EAF-based
30
UK forged steel products output was 50,000 tonnes in 2022
Interpretation
Production and Capacity Interpretation
The UK steel industry is currently trying to build a future with an electric arc while unplugging its past, a transition reflected in declining production as it painfully switches from fiery blast furnaces to the quieter hum of recycled scrap.
05 · Category
Trade and Markets26 stats
01
In 2022, UK steel exports were valued at £2.8 billion, down 15% from 2021
02
UK imported 5.2 million tonnes of steel products in 2022, 80% from EU and Asia
03
In 2023, UK steel exports to EU accounted for 55% of total volume at 1.8 million tonnes
04
Tata Steel UK exported 1.5 million tonnes of flat products in 2022
05
UK steel trade deficit was £6.1 billion in 2022
06
In Q1 2023, UK steel imports from China were 450,000 tonnes
07
British Steel exported 900,000 tonnes of long products to 50 countries in 2022
08
UK steel rebar exports totalled 200,000 tonnes in 2023, mainly to Middle East
09
In 2021, UK exported £3.2 billion worth of steel to USA under trade deal
10
Liberty Steel exports 40% of production, 600,000 tonnes to Europe in 2022
11
UK steel import quotas under WTO filled 85% in 2023
12
In 2022, Turkey supplied 15% of UK steel imports at 780,000 tonnes
13
UK steel exports to India grew 25% to £150m in 2023
14
Semi-finished steel imports to UK were 2.1 million tonnes in 2022
15
UK rejected 12,000 tonnes of illegal steel imports in 2023 via border checks
16
In 2023, UK steel pipe exports reached £200m, 20% to oil & gas sector
17
EU-UK steel trade volume was 4.5 million tonnes in 2022 post-Brexit
18
UK stainless steel imports totalled 450,000 tonnes in 2022
19
British Steel's rail exports to Network Rail partners abroad 50,000 tonnes/year
20
UK steel trade with USA: exports £400m, imports £1.2bn in 2023
21
In H2 2022, UK steel scrap exports were 1.2 million tonnes to Turkey
22
UK automotive steel exports 300,000 tonnes in 2022
23
Import of coated steel products to UK was 800,000 tonnes in 2023
24
UK steel exports growth to Africa 15% YoY to 100,000 tonnes in 2023
25
2022 UK steel trade balance worsened by £1bn due to energy crisis
26
Celsa UK's rebar exports to Ireland 150,000 tonnes annually
Interpretation
Trade and Markets Interpretation
While the UK steel industry shows flashes of global hustle—from rails crossing continents to rebars fortifying the Middle East—its towering trade deficit starkly reveals a nation that now imports its industrial backbone far more readily than it forges its own.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Uk Steel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-steel-industry-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Uk Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uk-steel-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Uk Steel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-steel-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level