Emissions in China’s steel industry increased by 15.7% y/y in October

In October 2025, Chinese steel enterprises belonging to the CISA industry association increased their total emissions by 15.7% compared to October 2024. This is evidenced by data from the association.

Despite the increase, emissions of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides in waste gases decreased by 15.2%, 3.6%, and 12.3% year-on-year, respectively.

Total energy consumption by participating companies in October decreased by 3.1% y/y. Total energy consumption (electricity, gas, coal, etc.) per ton of steel increased by 3% y/y, and comparable consumption increased by 1.9%. At the same time, electricity consumption per ton of steel increased by 5.4% y/y.

Total electricity consumption increased by 5.4% y/y. Own electricity production increased by 7.9% y/y, and its share in the total balance increased by 1.5 percentage points to 64.6%. Clean energy production increased by 31.1% y/y, including wind energy by 332.4% and solar energy – by 27.8%.

Water consumption by member companies increased by 4.2% y/y. Water intake increased by 7.7% y/y, and reuse by 4.1%. The water reuse rate remained at 98.33%. Water consumption per ton of steel increased by 3.6% y/y – to 2.63 cubic meters. Wastewater emissions increased by 14.8% y/y.

The utilization rate of steelmaking slag, blast furnace slag, and iron-bearing dust remained above 98%. The use of combustible gases, including blast furnace, converter, and coke oven gas, exceeded 98%.

It should be noted that in 2024, total emissions in China’s steel industry increased by 4.1% compared to 2023. The increase in the liquidity of blast furnace capacities compared to electric arc furnaces increased emissions in the industry, despite a decline in annual steel production.