Steel Manufacturing Report
: Analysis on the Market, Trends, and TechnologiesThe steel manufacturing sector is experiencing a cautious global production slowdown—2025 output is now forecast at 1.846 billion tonnes, down from earlier projections (Fastmarkets, 2025). Domestically, the steel manufacturing topic encompasses 2,589 active companies engaged in core processes like alloy production and recycling, with funding rounds up 48.55% year-over-year, reflecting heightened investor interest. Simultaneously, traditional blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace routes remain dominant, but electric arc furnace adoption and hydrogen-based pilot projects are reshaping decarbonization pathways—key as capacity expansions of 6.7% by 2027 threaten to lock in high-emission assets.
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Topic Dominance Index of Steel Manufacturing
To gauge the influence of Steel Manufacturing within the technological landscape, the Dominance Index analyzes trends from published articles, newly established companies, and global search activity
Key Activities and Applications
- Raw Steel Production: Utilizing blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) and electric arc furnace (EAF) methods, with China producing over 1 billion tonnes in 2024 (55% of global output) to serve both domestic and export markets.
- Steel Recycling: Processing scrap via EAFs and advanced sorting, with Q1 2025 production from recycled inputs at 468.6 million tonnes (–0.4% YoY), driven by regional variances (Asia/Oceania +0.5%, EU-27 –2.5%) (World Steel Recycling in Figures).
- Trade and Export Management: Navigating fluctuating US import tariffs and retaliatory measures that distort flows, erode margins, and complicate supply chains.
- Capacity Expansion and Optimization: Global plans to add 165 million tonnes (6.7%) of steelmaking capacity by 2027 risk entrenching overcapacity and price pressures (OECD Steel Outlook 2025).
- Decarbonization Efforts: Pilots of hydrogen-based direct-reduction ironmaking and investments in renewable-powered EAFs aim to cut CO₂ but face high capital and infrastructure hurdles.
Emergent Trends and Core Insights
- Production Slowdown & Demand Weakness: May 2025 crude steel output fell 3.8% YoY, reflecting slowdowns in China and OECD markets (Global Steel Production Still Weakening).
- Regional Demand Divergence: Growth in ASEAN and MENA contrasts with China’s 6.9% output drop and stagnant OECD consumption, signaling shifting global demand centers.
- Subsidies & Trade Distortions: Chinese government support is estimated at ten times OECD levels, exacerbating overcapacity and intensifying trade disputes.
- Tariff Uncertainty: Volatile US steel tariffs undermine investment confidence and production planning.
- Sustainability Challenges: Excess capacity and uneven policy frameworks limit decarbonization, even as green-steel initiatives gain strategic priority.
Technologies and Methodologies
- Blast Furnace–Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF): Conventional route still accounts for the majority of global steelmaking, favored for its scale despite high emissions.
- Electric Arc Furnace (EAF): Growing for scrap-based production, with potential for near-zero emissions when powered by renewables.
- Hydrogen-Based Steelmaking: Early pilots target deep CO₂ cuts but face cost and supply-chain barriers.
- Digitalization & Automation: AI-driven process optimization, IoT-enabled asset monitoring, and robotics improve yield, quality, and uptime.
- Advanced Recycling Techniques: New sorting, molten-salt purification, and closed-loop scrap systems boost recycled steel yields and consistency.
Steel Manufacturing Funding
A total of 154 Steel Manufacturing companies have received funding.
Overall, Steel Manufacturing companies have raised $15.3B.
Companies within the Steel Manufacturing domain have secured capital from 313 funding rounds.
The chart shows the funding trendline of Steel Manufacturing companies over the last 5 years
Steel Manufacturing Companies
- Advance Steel: An Australian firm specializing in custom structural steel solutions for construction and industrial equipment, integrating CAD/CAM workflows with high-precision laser cutting and robotic welding.
- Eastern Steels: India-based producer of specialty alloy bars and rods for automotive and heavy machinery, focusing on high-strength manganese-silicon grades to meet stringent component performance requirements.
- MicroFab Steel: A U.S. startup offering micro-fabrication services for precision steel components, leveraging wire-arc additive manufacturing to produce complex geometries for aerospace miniaturization projects.
- Garudaya MATO Steel: A Japanese firm pioneering continuous casting innovations for thin-gauge steel sheet rolling, targeting high-volume electronics shell and automotive panel applications with tighter thickness tolerances.
- Smart Steel Technologies: A Canadian venture developing AI-driven process controls for EAF operations, reducing energy intensity by 10–15% through real-time slag composition monitoring and adaptive power modulation.
Get detailed analytics and profiles on 2.8K companies driving change in Steel Manufacturing, enabling you to make informed strategic decisions.
2.8K Steel Manufacturing Companies
Discover Steel Manufacturing Companies, their Funding, Manpower, Revenues, Stages, and much more
Steel Manufacturing Investors
TrendFeedr’s Investors tool provides an extensive overview of 292 Steel Manufacturing investors and their activities. By analyzing funding rounds and market trends, this tool equips you with the knowledge to make strategic investment decisions in the Steel Manufacturing sector.
292 Steel Manufacturing Investors
Discover Steel Manufacturing Investors, Funding Rounds, Invested Amounts, and Funding Growth
Steel Manufacturing News
Explore the evolution and current state of Steel Manufacturing with TrendFeedr’s News feature. Access 1.4K Steel Manufacturing articles that provide comprehensive insights into market trends and technological advancements.
1.4K Steel Manufacturing News Articles
Discover Latest Steel Manufacturing Articles, News Magnitude, Publication Propagation, Yearly Growth, and Strongest Publications
Executive Summary
The steel manufacturing industry stands at a strategic inflection—faced with slowing demand, overcapacity, and mounting carbon constraints, companies must pivot toward specialization, digital integration, and sustainable practices. Leading firms differentiate through high-value alloys, precision fabrication, and end-to-end service offerings, while innovators harness automation and hydrogen pathways to align with net-zero targets. Geographic demand is shifting toward Southeast Asia and the Middle East, inviting targeted expansion. Success hinges on agile trade management, streamlined operations via AI and IoT, and embedding circular economy principles to secure both profitability and resilience in a challenging global landscape.
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