China’s steel industry posted a steady performance in the first quarter of 2025, with output reaching over 350 million tonnes—a year-on-year increase of 6.1%, according to the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).
Source: CCTV News
China’s steel industry posted a steady performance in the first quarter of 2025, with output reaching over 350 million tonnes—a year-on-year increase of 6.1%, according to the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA). The sector saw stable production and operations, along with improved profitability, laying a strong foundation for continued growth throughout the year.
“The industry is currently at a critical juncture of transformation and upgrading,” said Jiang Wei, Secretary-General of CISA. “We're also in a key period for green, low-carbon development and facing a reshaping of the global competitive landscape. By focusing on improved efficiency and high-quality growth, we can better navigate the uncertainties in the external environment.”
Both crude steel and finished steel output rose in the first quarter. Notably, low-carbon steel products accounted for 28.6% of total production—up 7.1 percentage points from a year earlier. Experts note that replacing iron ore with recycled steel on a large scale can significantly cut carbon emissions.
As of April 20, 2025, 141 steel companies had completed full-process ultra-low emission upgrades, covering around 591 million tonnes of crude steel capacity. Another 47 companies had partially completed upgrades, representing an additional 169 million tonnes of capacity.
Progress is also being made on the sector’s low-carbon transformation. The use of recycled steel in place of traditional iron ore has shown clear results, reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 67% compared with conventional smelting methods. China's steel industry is shifting from a linear “resource-to-product” model to a circular “resource–product–recycled resource” system.
CISA said that by the end of this year, ultra-low emission retrofits in key regions will be largely completed, putting China on track to build the world’s largest clean steel production system. “By the end of 2025, major steel-producing regions will have essentially completed these upgrades,” Jiang added. “Our goal is to have over 80% of national steel capacity meeting ultra-low emission standards.”
Reproduced article do not represent the position of New Energy Era.