Steel Demand by Product 2025 | Finished Steel

Demand Split by Product

World demand for finished steel products totalled 1,718 million tonnes (Mt) in 2025. The analysis below shows how that demand divides between 12 products, from plate and hot-rolled coil to reinforcing bar, wire rod and tube. For each product it sets out production, imports, exports and the resulting apparent consumption. The product assessment is by James F King, and its total agrees with the World Steel Association (worldsteel) figure for 2025 apparent steel use.

Reinforcing bar is the largest single product at 361 Mt, about 21% of world demand. Hot-rolled coil, wire rod and galvanised sheet each account for about 210 Mt.

Demand by Product, 2025

Source: MCI research, from the product assessment of James F King. Total consistent with worldsteel, World Steel in Figures 2026. Data as of 2025.

Production, Trade and Apparent Consumption by Product, 2025

Swipe the table sideways for more columns; the first column stays in place.

Source: MCI research, from the product assessment of James F King. Gross production is not totalled because it double counts intermediate products. Figures may not add exactly because of rounding. Data as of 2025.

How the Product Balance Is Calculated

Gross production is the total output of each product, including material that is processed further into another product within the steel industry. Much hot-rolled coil, for example, is cold rolled into CRC, and much CRC is then coated to make galvanised sheet and tinplate.

Net production removes that double counting. The volume of each intermediate product used to make another, more finished product is subtracted, so that each tonne of steel is counted once, in the form in which it leaves the steel industry. This is why gross and net production differ for plate, hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil, but are the same for products that are not processed further.

Apparent consumption is net production plus imports minus exports. It measures the steel delivered to a market, not the steel actually used in a given year, because it does not adjust for changes in stocks held by distributors and end users. The terms demand and consumption on this page refer to apparent consumption.

The world total of 1,718 Mt agrees with apparent steel use for 2025 as published by worldsteel in World Steel in Figures 2026. At world level, imports and exports should in principle balance; the small difference here reflects rounding and gaps in reported trade data.

For demand by region, product shape and steel grade, see our steel demand analysis 2025. For demand by consuming sector, see the steel end-use analysis 2025. For steel trade between regions, see our steel trade flows 2025.

About the Source

The product demand assessment on this page was prepared by James F King, who provides SteelOnTheNet's analysis of steel demand by product. Country and regional product balances in the same format can be prepared on request, with historic data and demand projections.

To discuss a product demand analysis for a specific market, contact Metals Consulting International (MCI) through the project enquiry form.

Founder and CEO, SteelOnTheNet

Dr Andrzej M Kotas

Founder and CEO of SteelOnTheNet and Managing Director of Metals Consulting International, specialising in steel market analysis, feasibility studies and industry restructuring for Big 4 accounting firms, major management consultancies, governments and corporations – see feasibility appraisal and steel industry restructuring pages. View Profile →