World steel trade flows.

World Steel Trade Flows.

Global import & export flows, 2021

The analysis 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) - much the same pattern as in the year before. For this purpose, other Asia includes South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand & Indonesia.

In 2021, according to worldsteel, some 25% of all newly-manufactured steel crossed a border prior to being consumed. International trade in steel that year amounted to around 460 million 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, 2022.
All tonnage figures are millions of metric tonnes.