World Steel Association Releases Report on Steel Industry

The World Steel Association has published a report on steel industry by-products. The report is the result of a survey of its member companies. The report looks at by-products’ generation rates, recycling or re-use rates and management techniques.

The World Steel Association (worldsteel) represents about 180 steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations and steel research institutes. Association members produce around 85 percent of the world's steel.

By-products fall into three main categories: ironmaking slag, steelmaking slag, and dust and sludge. The report outlines the economic and environmental issues surrounding steel industry by-products. It also examines the benefit by-products can create for other industries, such as cement and road-building.

The report finds that for the best-performing companies, by-products are an integral part of the business.

Pierre Gugliermina, chairman of worldsteel’s Committee on Technology, says, “This study on by-products delivers important insights and challenges for the steel industry. By-products generation brings significant benefits both environmentally and economically to the steel industry. Use of by-products prevents landfill waste, reduces CO2 emissions and helps preserve natural resources”.

“Recycling 100 percent of BOF or EAF slag is possible today, and it is achieved in the world’s main plants. This progress demonstrates that there is a high level of technical skill and management techniques in the steel industry. The techniques achieved by the best performers should be seen as a major opportunity for the rest of the industry”.

On average, the production of one metric ton of steel results in 200 kilograms (in electric arc furnace steelmaking) to 400 kilograms (in blast furnace steelmaking) of by-products. These include slags, dusts, sludges and other materials. The study uses data and information covering 60 steelmaking plants in 24 countries.