Almost two years after its launch, The Green Steel Challenge introduces the third season of podcasts by returning to its very first Season 1 guests, Edwin Basson, Director General, and Åsa Ekdahl, Head of Environment & Climate Change at Worldsteel.
You’ll hear Edwin and Åsa talk about the what progress has been made to decarbonize steelmaking around the world, and what challenges the industry faces which were not foreseen two years ago. Some key takeaways? Decarbonization will take longer than expected two years ago and will require more support from the energy sector which is struggling to supply surging green energy demand. In 2070, half of steel demand will still be supplied by blast furnace route producers, so lowering blast furnace emissions is key to reaching overall world steel industry decarbonization goals.
The Green Steel Challenge podcasts are produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities and the discussion is all about how exactly we can deliver Green Steel. The next podcast guest will be Sebastian Langendorf, CEO, Meranti Green Steel, viewable on October 21st. Tune in!
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 77.4 million metric tonnes in August, 0.7% lower than in August, 2024. Chinese production in the first eight months of 2025 was 3.2% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in August, 2025 at 9.0 million tonnes, 0.3% higher than in August, 2024. Net finished steel exports in the first eight months of 2025 were 11.2% higher than in the first eight months of 2024.
China produced 77.4 million tonnes in August, accounting for 53% of world output and declining 0.7% compared to August, 2024. World crude steel production outside of China rose 1.5% on last August, with increases in India (+13.2%), Iran (+17.9%), Turkey (+7.9%) and the US (+3.2%) offset by declines in South Korea (-6.1%), Germany (-10.5%), Russia (estimated -4.6%) and Japan (-3.4%).
Crude steel production in the first eight months of 2025 was 1.2% lower than in the same period last year.
An engineer inspecting hot air injection unit in a blast furnace at POSCO Pohang Steelworks from Worldsteel Image Library
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 4% from 257,000 short tons in August 2024 to 247,000 tons in August 2025. The decline was mainly due to lower Structural Angles & Channels imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as lower All Other Structural Shapes imports from Turkey and Luxembourg. The decline in imports of these product categories was offset by an increase in imports of Wire Rod from Vietnam and Egypt.
US long products imports in the first eight months of 2025 were 3% lower than in the same period last year. This was mainly the result of lower Structural Angles & Channels (-56%), Merchant Bar (-45%) and Light Shapes (-37%) imports. In contrast, Wire Rod imports rose 14% between the first eight months of 2024 and the first eight months of 2025.
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 43% from 691,000 short tons in August, 2024 to 394,000 tons in August, 2025. The decline was mainly due to lower hot dip galvanized imports from Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Turkey, as well as lower hot rolled imports from Canada and Japan.
US flat products imports in the first eight months of 2025 were 28% lower than in the same period last year. Imports of all flat product categories declined year-on-year with hot dip galvanized -39%, hot rolled -24%, cut plate -28%, and cold rolled -14%.
US flat products import licenses
January 2017 to August 2025
Short tons
End of galvanizing line, employee stacking finished product at Ternium Juventud, Mexico, from Worldsteel Image Library
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 79.7 million metric tonnes in July, 4.0% lower than in July, 2024. Chinese production in the first seven months of 2025 was 3.5% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in July, 2025 at 9.4 million tonnes, 28.1% higher than in July, 2024. Net finished steel exports in the first seven months of 2025 were 13.0% higher than in the first seven months of 2024.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
Hot steel billet descaling after furnace at Baotou Iron & Steel, China from Worldsteel Image Library
