Emissions in China’s steel industry increased by 9.7% y/y in March

In March 2025, Chinese steelmakers that are members of the CISA industry association increased their total emissions by 9.7% compared to March 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 13.1%, 5.5% and 16% y/y, respectively.

Total energy consumption by the participating companies increased by 2.1% y/y in March. Total energy consumption (electricity, gas, coal, etc.) per tonne of steel increased by 0.06% y/y, while comparable energy consumption decreased by 0.97%. At the same time, electricity consumption per ton of steel increased by 1.3% y/y.

Total electricity consumption increased by 8.4% y/y. Own electricity generation increased by 11.7% y/y and its share in the overall balance increased by 1.79 percentage points. Clean energy production increased by 39.8% y/y, including 327% for wind and 37% for solar.

Water consumption by EBA member companies decreased by 0.1% y/y. Water withdrawals increased by 2.05% y/y, while reuse decreased by 1.01%. The water recycling rate decreased by 0.05 percentage points to 98.38%. Water consumption per ton of steel increased by 2.2% y/y – to 2.28 cubic meters.

Wastewater emissions decreased by 13.4% y/y. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) in water decreased by 10.8% y/y, ammonia by 12.6%, and suspended solids by 16.3%.

The utilization rate of steelmaking slag, blast furnace slag and iron-containing dust remained above 98%. 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 percentage points and coke oven gas by 0.35 percentage points.

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.