Emissions in China’s steel industry increased by 3.3% y/y in February

In February 2025, Chinese steelmakers that are members of the CISA industry association increased their total emissions by 3.3% compared to February 2024. This is evidenced by the association’s data.

Despite the increase, emissions of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases decreased by 11.7%, 7% and 12.4% y/y, respectively.

The total energy consumption by the participating companies in February decreased by 3.1% y/y. The total energy consumption (electricity, gas, coal, etc.) per tonne of steel decreased by 1.7% y/y, and the comparable energy consumption by 3.5%. At the same time, electricity consumption per ton of steel increased by 1.3% y/y.

Total electricity consumption increased by 4% y/y. Own electricity generation increased by 2.3% y/y, but its share in the overall balance decreased by 1.03 percentage points. Clean energy production increased by 64.1% y/y, including wind energy – by 15.4% and solar energy – by 80.7%.

Water consumption by EBA member companies decreased by 754.85 cubic meters, which is 0.1% less than last year. Water withdrawals decreased by 3.1% y/y, and the volume of reuse decreased by 0.06%. The water reuse rate increased by 0.05 percentage points to 98.44%. Water consumption per ton of steel decreased by 0.4% y/y – to 2.2 cubic meters.

Wastewater emissions decreased by 6.8% y/y. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) in water decreased by 16.2% y/y, ammonia by 9.1%, total cyanide – by 38.5%, and suspended solids – by 8.2%.

The utilization rate of steelmaking slag, blast furnace slag and iron-containing dust remained above 97%. Combustible gas utilization, including blast furnace gas, BOF gas and coke oven gas, exceeded 98%. The share of blast furnace gas increased by 0.09 p.p. and coke oven gas – by 0.35 p.p. Blast furnace gas emissions decreased significantly, and its share in the total balance decreased by 0.18 p.p. BOF gas utilization per tonne of steel increased by 1.8% y/y.

In 2024, total emissions in China’s steel industry increased by 4.1% compared to 2023. Increased liquidity of blast furnace capacity compared to electric arc facilities increased emissions in the industry, despite a decline in annual steel production.