Energy efficiency trends in steel industry

There is an apparent deterioration of energy efficiency in steel production since 2010 in 8 EU countries, as shown by the increase in the specific consumption per ton of steel; it has decreased in 4 countries and was roughly stable in 3 countries and at EU level . At EU level, the specific consumption of steel has slightly decreased since 2010 (-0.7%).

Since 2019, energy efficiency in steel production improved in half of EU countries, while the other half seen an increasing specific consumption per ton of steel.

Note: The graph only shows the main producing countries.

The energy performance of the steel industry should be considered in relation to the share of electric steel, the less energy intensive process: the higher this ratio, the lower the specific consumption. In Slovenia, all the steel is produced from the electric process, while in Italy and Spain, the share of this process is around 70-85%, which explains the lower specific consumption. In Slovakia and Czechia, where electric steel share is lower than 10%, the specific consumption is respectively 49% and 66% higher than in Spain or Italy.