Emissions in China’s steel industry increased by 7.1% y/y in November

In November 2025, Chinese steel enterprises belonging to the CISA industry association increased their total emissions by 7.1% compared to November 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 13.9%, 4.5%, and 18.2% year-on-year, respectively.

Total energy consumption by participating companies in November decreased by 4.5% y/y. Total energy consumption (electricity, gas, coal, etc.) per ton of steel increased by 4.7% y/y, while comparable consumption decreased by 1.2%. At the same time, electricity consumption per ton of steel increased by 7.4% y/y.

Total electricity consumption increased by 5.5% y/y. Own electricity production increased by 3.2% y/y, while its share in the total balance fell by 1.3 percentage points to 60.6%. Clean energy production increased by 77.9% y/y, including wind energy by 584% and solar energy by 76.8%.

Water consumption by member companies increased by 1% y/y. Water withdrawal increased by 1.3% y/y, and reuse by 1%. The water reuse rate remained at 98.5%. Water consumption per ton of steel increased by 10.6% y/y – to 2.57 cubic meters. Wastewater emissions increased by 17.4% 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.