World Steel Trade Flows
The global steel trade plays a crucial role in industrial growth, infrastructure development, and economic stability worldwide. Steel producers, traders, and buyers rely on international markets to source raw materials, distribute finished products, and navigate complex trade policies, tariffs, and regulations. The chart below summarises the main inter-regional trade flows in 2024.
The chart above identifies China as the largest exporting region (in terms of extra-regional exports), and other Asia as the largest importing region (in terms of extra-regional imports). For this purpose, other Asia includes South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand & Indonesia.
In 2024, some 25% of all steel made crossed a border prior to being consumed.
International trade in steel in year 2024 amounted to 449 million metric tonnes.
Note that for a small fee, the ISSB can supply steel trade data (import or export volumes) covering monthly, quarterly or annual tonnages and dollar prices, for most semi-finished or finished steel products. For further information, visit ISSB or click below to identify the trends across recent years.
Source: World Steel Association - World Steel in Figures, 2025.
All tonnage figures are millions of metric tonnes.