2020 world steel demand - estimated steel consumption.

Global Steel Consumption Assessments

Consumption by Region, 2020

Region	Demand, mt
EU	169
Other Europe	35
CIS	59
NAFTA	143
Central & South America	46
Middle East & Africa	85
Asia & Oceania	1270
World	1806

Determinations above are finished steel product demand estimates for 2020 in millions of metric tonnes. Source: worldsteel and MCI calculations.

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Use by Product Shape, 2020

Steel shape	Demand, mt
Flat products	719
Long products	892
Tube products	195
Global sum	1806

Calculations are indicative finished steel demand assessments for 2020. Tube data includes welded and seamless tube. For chart, see below. Source: MCI deliberations.

Demand estimates by shape indicate estimated global steel use analysed by flat products [including plate, hot rolled coil and sheet, cold rolled and coated sheet], long products [including rail, heavy sections, bar and wire rod] and tube [welded pipe and seamless tube]. Figures are demand analyses prepared by Metals Consulting International for year 2020.

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Use by Application, 2020

Millions tonnes	Total
Construction incl structural & building work	883
Mechanical engineering	293
Automotive	135
Other transport incl shipbuilding & rail	63
Domestic appliances	61
Metal products	206
Oil & gas exploration & transport	114
Defence	16
Other industries / miscellaneous	34
Total	1806

Further analytical information including more detail by product type is available for purchase. Please contact MCI. All 2020 product demand figures have been compiled by MCI.

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Steel Demand by Consuming End-Use Industry, 2020

Demand estimates by sector are indicative of global 2020 steel demand. Construction includes structural and building work. Mechanical engineering includes machinery & equipment and components; as well as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) markets. Automotive sector includes passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles. Other transport includes shipbuilding (covering container ships, dry cargo ships, LPG carriers, tankers, passenger ferries) as well as rail, buses and heavy vehicles. Metal products include furniture, fasteners, wire products, containers, drums and boxes. Defence estimates are based on MCI assumptions concerning steel use for submarines, frigates, destroyers, tanks, and other military market uses. Tubes include welded and seamless. Figures are MCI estimates of steel end-use by application for year 2020 total steel consumption.

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Requirement by Quality, 2020

Steel quality	Demand, mt
Carbon steel	1706
Engineering steel	52
Stainless steel	46
Tool steel	~2
World	1806

Data above are from MCI analysis of steel use by grade for 2020. Engineering steels are often also referred to as SBQ steels (special bar quality steel); these are steels that typically move or rotate whilst in use. Global melt shop production of stainless steel in 2020 is estimated at ~53 mt [Source: ISSF].

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Historic Steel Demand & Demand Forecast

Year	Demand, mt
2010	1311
2011	1415
2012	1443
2013	1535
2014	1552
2015	1506
2016	1521
2017	1635
2018	1710
2019	1775
2020	1806
2021	1831
2022	1857

Annual figures to 2020 inclusive are consistent with various World Steel Association [worldsteel] assessments. 2021-2021 figures are MCI forecasts. All figures are millions of metric tonnes of finished steel. Mt denotes a million metric tons.

This page was last updated on 10th January 2020.