Emissions from China’s steel industry fell by 12.2% y/y in February

In February 2026, Chinese steel mills that are members of the CISA industry association reduced their total exhaust gas emissions by 12.15% compared to February 2025, according to the association’s data.

Despite the overall decline, emissions of major pollutants in the exhaust gases also decreased: sulfur dioxide by 16.85%, particulate matter by 11.29%, and nitrogen oxides by 16.33% y/y.

Energy consumption by member companies in February decreased by 2.91% y/y. Total energy consumption per ton of steel increased by 1.66% y/y, while comparable energy consumption per ton of steel decreased by 1.43% y/y. Electricity consumption per ton of steel increased by 4.05% y/y.

Total electricity consumption rose by 2.56% y/y. In-house electricity generation increased by 7.86% y/y, and its share in the overall balance rose by 3.08 percentage points – to 62.57%. Clean energy production increased by 31.25% y/y, including wind power by 62.07% and solar power by 31.5%.

Water consumption by member companies of the association increased by 2.56% year-over-year. Water withdrawal rose by 5.68% y/y, while the volume of water reuse increased by 2.51% y/y.

The water reuse rate was 98.40% (-0.05 percentage points). Water withdrawal per ton of steel increased by 10.79% y/y, to 2.46 cubic meters. Wastewater discharges increased by 8.14% y/y.

At the same time, pollutant levels in wastewater increased: chemical oxygen demand by 30.8%, ammonia nitrogen by 19.28%, volatile phenols by 39.29%, total cyanides by 69.54%, and suspended solids by 11.99%. Emissions of petroleum products, conversely, decreased by 37.81% year-on-year.

The recycling rate for steelmaking and blast furnace slag, as well as iron-containing dust, remained above 96%. The utilization of blast furnace, converter, and coke oven gases exceeded 98%, while converter gas extraction per ton of steel increased by 1.33% y/y.

As a reminder, in December 2025, Chinese steelmakers increased total emissions by 4.41% compared to December 2024. Energy consumption in the industry fell by 6.4% y/yr during te month.