Emissions in China’s steel industry increased by 5.9% y/y in January-November

Total emissions in China’s steel industry in January-November 2023 increased by 5.9% compared to the same period in 2022. This was reported by the China Steel Association (CISA).

Emissions of sulfur dioxide per ton of steel amounted to 0.22 kg/t (-9.6% y/y), smoke and dust – 0.26 kg/t (-6.2% y/y), nitrogen oxide – 0.43 kg/t (-9.9% y/y). Sulphur dioxide and particulate matter emissions decreased by 10.1% and 6.8%, respectively.

The total volume of water used by steelmakers in January-November increased by 3.2% y/y – up to 80.26 billion cubic meters. In particular, new water intake decreased by 0.9% y/y, while reuse increased by 3.2% y/y. The water reuse rate amounted to 98.2%, which is 0.07 p.p. more than in the previous year.

The production of steel slag by Chinese steelmakers for January-November 2023 amounted to 76.01 million tons, which is 0.1% more y/y. The output of blast furnace slag increased by 3.2% y/y – up to 200.28 million tons. The utilization rate of steelmaking slag was 98.44%, (+0.55 percentage point y/y), of blast furnace slag – 99.02%, (+0.34 percentage point y/y).

Blast furnace gas production amounted to 827.1 billion cubic meters, up 0.93% yoy, BOF gas production amounted to 72.23 billion cubic meters (+4.36% y/y), and coke oven gas production amounted to 50.81 billion cubic meters. The blast furnace gas utilization rate was 98.7%, up 0.43 percentage points compared to January-November 2022, BOF gas utilization rate was 98.5% (+0.21 percentage points y/y), and coke oven gas utilization rate was 98.6% (-0.03 percentage points y/y).

As GMK Center reported earlier, China in November 2023 reduced steel production by 3.8% compared to the previous month – to 76.1 million tons. The decline in steel production continues for the fifth month in a row. In 11 months of 2023, the country increased steel production by 1.5% y/y – up to 952.14 million tons.