Industry data
Steel industry statistics
The numbers behind Australian steel: crude steel production and how it is made, steel imports and exports, how much steel the country uses, the iron ore and pig iron at the start of the chain, and the people and businesses in steelmaking and structural steel fabrication. Each figure links to the agency or industry body that published it and shows the period it applies to.
Reviewed 30 October 2026
Key figures
- 5.2 million tonnes of crude steel produced in Australia
- 2,968 thousand tonnes of steel products imported into Australia
- 1,432 thousand tonnes of steel products exported from Australia
- 17,123 people working for iron smelting and steel manufacturing businesses, an ABS estimate from business survey and tax data
- 21,170 people working for structural steel fabricating businesses, an ABS estimate from business survey and tax data
Steel production
How much crude steel is made in Australia and how it is made, from the World Steel Association, which collects its figures from steel producers across its global membership. Crude steel covers ingots, semi-finished products such as billets, blooms and slabs, and liquid steel for castings.
5.2 million tonnes
of crude steel produced in Australia
worldsteel's figure, rounded to a tenth of a million tonnes. Its data viewer gives 5,223 thousand tonnes. The figure for 2024 was 4.7 million tonnes.
Link to this figure28
Australia's place among the world's steel-producing countries, ranked by crude steel output
Australia ranked 29th in 2024.
Link to this figure75.6%
of Australian crude steel made in oxygen converters
worldsteel's Oxygen column. Its data viewer describes this as crude steel produced via the blast oxygen furnace route.
Link to this figure24.4%
of Australian crude steel made in electric furnaces
worldsteel's Electric column. Its data viewer describes this as crude steel produced via the electric arc furnace route.
Link to this figure| Year | Crude steel produced |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 |
Thousand tonnes, by calendar year, as shown in worldsteel's data viewer, which gives whole thousands of tonnes and covers the latest five years.
Link to this chartSteel imports and exports
How much steel Australia brings in and sends out, from the World Steel Association. These figures cover semi-finished and finished steel products such as bars, billets, blooms, coils, rails, sections, sheets and slabs. Steel that crosses the border inside other goods, such as cars, containers, fridges and washing machines, is measured separately as indirect trade.
2,968 thousand tonnes
of steel products imported into Australia
Semi-finished and finished steel products. The figure for 2024 was 3,262 thousand tonnes.
Link to this figure1,432 thousand tonnes
of steel products exported from Australia
Semi-finished and finished steel products. The figure for 2024 was 1,063 thousand tonnes.
Link to this figure| Year | Steel imported |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 |
Thousand tonnes of semi-finished and finished steel products, by calendar year, as shown in worldsteel's data viewer in whole thousands of tonnes.
Link to this chart| Year | Steel exported |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 |
Thousand tonnes of semi-finished and finished steel products, by calendar year, as shown in worldsteel's data viewer in whole thousands of tonnes.
Link to this chart7.0 million tonnes
of steel imported inside other goods, more than was exported inside other goods
worldsteel's net indirect imports of steel, in finished steel equivalent. It ranks Australia 3rd among countries for net indirect imports.
Link to this figureSteel use
How much steel Australia uses, from the World Steel Association. It measures this as apparent steel use, which it describes as deliveries minus net exports of steel industry goods. The latest steel use figures in its data viewer are for an earlier year than its production and trade figures.
5,995 thousand tonnes
of finished steel products used in Australia, measured as apparent steel use
worldsteel's data viewer, in whole thousands of tonnes. Last updated on 4 December 2025.
Link to this figure224.4 kg
of finished steel used per person in Australia, measured as apparent steel use
worldsteel's apparent steel use per capita (finished steel products). Last updated on 4 December 2025.
Link to this figureIron ore and pig iron
The start of the steel chain, from the World Steel Association: how much iron ore Australia mines and ships overseas, and how much pig iron, the product of smelting iron ore, is made here. The iron ore figures are in tonnes. Iron ore export earnings are on our mining statistics page, so they are not repeated here.
953.9 million tonnes
of iron ore produced in Australia
Actual weight. worldsteel credits this table to RMG Consulting.
Link to this figure901.6 million tonnes
of iron ore exported from Australia
Actual weight. worldsteel credits this table to RMG Consulting.
Link to this figure3.5 million tonnes
of pig iron produced in Australia
The figure for 2024 was 2.8 million tonnes.
Link to this figureJobs and output in steel manufacturing
How many people work in the manufacturing industries that make and shape iron and steel, and what those industries produce, from the ABS. The ABS sorts each business into an industry class by its main activity. This section covers every manufacturing class whose name includes iron or steel. People are counted at the end of June, and the counts include working proprietors and partners.
17,123
people working for iron smelting and steel manufacturing businesses, an ABS estimate from business survey and tax data
ANZSIC class 2110, which also covers rolling steel into sheets, bars and rods, and recycling scrap ferrous metals. Counts people working for these businesses in the last pay period ending in June, including working proprietors and partners. The figure at the end of June 2024 was 17,934.
Link to this figure$3,251 million
industry value added by iron smelting and steel manufacturing
Current prices. Industry value added is the ABS estimate of the value of an industry's output less the materials and expenses used to produce it. The figure for 2023-24 was $3,449 million.
Link to this figure$14,053 million
sales and service income of iron smelting and steel manufacturing businesses
Current prices. The figure for 2023-24 was $15,467 million.
Link to this figure| Industry class | People working |
|---|---|
| Structural steel fabricating | |
| Iron smelting and steel manufacturing | |
| Iron and steel casting | |
| Steel pipe and tube manufacturing | |
| Iron and steel forging |
Every ANZSIC manufacturing class whose name includes iron or steel. People working for these businesses in the last pay period ending in June, including working proprietors and partners. ABS estimates, partly modelled from tax data.
Link to this chartStructural steel fabrication
Businesses mainly engaged in fabricating structural steel components of buildings or other structures, such as girders, joists, rafters, roof trusses, scaffolding and welded reinforcing mesh. Erecting steel on site is counted in construction instead, and is on our construction statistics page. Jobs and output come from the ABS Australian Industry release. Business counts come from the ABS count of trading businesses, which includes businesses with no employees.
21,170
people working for structural steel fabricating businesses, an ABS estimate from business survey and tax data
ANZSIC class 2221. Counts people working for these businesses in the last pay period ending in June, including working proprietors and partners. The figure at the end of June 2024 was 20,261.
Link to this figure$3,208 million
industry value added by structural steel fabricating
Current prices. The figure for 2023-24 was $3,116 million.
Link to this figure$9,669 million
sales and service income of structural steel fabricating businesses
Current prices. The figure for 2023-24 was $9,930 million.
Link to this figure2,170
structural steel fabricating businesses trading
ANZSIC class 2221, from the June 2025 edition, the latest with class detail. Includes 824 businesses with no employees. The ABS may slightly perturb class counts to protect confidentiality.
Link to this figure240
structural steel fabricating businesses joined the ABS count of trading businesses
Entries include businesses re-entering the count, not only new businesses. An entry rate of 11.1%.
Link to this figure238
structural steel fabricating businesses left the ABS count of trading businesses
Not every exit is a closure. An exit rate of 11.0%.
Link to this figure| Employees | Businesses |
|---|---|
| No employees | |
| 1 to 4 employees | |
| 5 to 19 employees | |
| 20 to 199 employees | |
| 200 or more employees |
Businesses trading at the end of the financial year, by the ABS annualised employment size range. The ABS may slightly perturb these counts to protect confidentiality.
Link to this chart| State or territory | Businesses |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | |
| Victoria | |
| Queensland | |
| Western Australia | |
| South Australia | |
| Tasmania | |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
| Northern Territory |
Businesses trading at the end of the financial year, by the state or territory the ABS records as their main location. A business operating in several states is counted in one state only. The ABS may slightly perturb these counts, which matters most for the smallest.
Link to this chartIron and steel businesses
How many businesses in each iron and steel manufacturing class were trading, from the ABS count of Australian businesses. The ABS counts businesses that are actively trading, including those with no employees, and classes each business by its main activity. The ABS publishes industry class detail each December.
997
iron smelting and steel manufacturing businesses trading
ANZSIC class 2110, which also covers rolling steel into primary shapes and recycling scrap ferrous metals. Includes 397 businesses with no employees and 9 with 200 or more employees. The ABS may slightly perturb class counts to protect confidentiality.
Link to this figure| Industry class | Businesses |
|---|---|
| Structural steel fabricating | |
| Iron smelting and steel manufacturing | |
| Iron and steel casting | |
| Steel pipe and tube manufacturing | |
| Iron and steel forging |
Every ANZSIC manufacturing class whose name includes iron or steel, the same classes as the jobs chart above. Businesses trading at the end of the financial year, including those with no employees. The ABS may slightly perturb class counts to protect confidentiality.
Link to this chartCommon questions
How much steel does Australia produce?
Australia produced 5.2 million tonnes of crude steel, according to the World Steel Association, which puts Australia at number 28 among the world's steel-producing countries. The chart of crude steel by year above shows each recent year in worldsteel's data viewer.
How is steel made in Australia?
By worldsteel's figures, 75.6% of Australian crude steel was made in oxygen converters and 24.4% in electric furnaces. Australian plants also produced 3.5 million tonnes of pig iron, the product of smelting iron ore.
Does Australia import steel?
Yes. Australia imported 2,968 thousand tonnes of semi-finished and finished steel products and exported 1,432 thousand tonnes , according to the World Steel Association. Steel also arrives inside imported goods such as cars and fridges. By worldsteel's figures, Australia took in 7.0 million tonnes more steel this way than it sent out inside exported goods.
How much steel does Australia export?
Australia exported 1,432 thousand tonnes of semi-finished and finished steel products, according to the World Steel Association. The export chart above shows each recent year in worldsteel's data viewer.
How much steel does Australia use?
The World Steel Association puts Australia's apparent steel use at 5,995 thousand tonnes of finished steel products, or 224.4 kg per person.
How many people work in the steel industry in Australia?
The ABS estimates 17,123 people worked for iron smelting and steel manufacturing businesses and 21,170 for structural steel fabricating businesses. The jobs chart above shows every manufacturing class whose name includes iron or steel, including casting, forging and pipe and tube making.
How big is the steel industry in Australia?
Iron smelting and steel manufacturing businesses earned $14,053 million in sales and service income and produced $3,251 million in industry value added, according to the ABS. Structural steel fabricators earned $9,669 million and produced $3,208 million in industry value added.
How many structural steel fabricators are there in Australia?
The ABS counted 2,170 structural steel fabricating businesses trading, including those with no employees. Over the year, 240 joined the count and 238 left it. The size chart above shows how many employees they have.
Which state has the most structural steel fabricators?
New South Wales, followed by Victoria and Queensland, counting structural steel fabricating businesses by the state the ABS records as their main location. The state chart above shows each state and territory.
How much iron ore does Australia produce?
Australia produced 953.9 million tonnes of iron ore and exported 901.6 million tonnes , in actual weight, according to figures published by the World Steel Association. What those exports earn is on our mining statistics page.
Using these figures
You are welcome to quote any figure on this page. Please credit the original publisher named beside it, and link to this page if it saved you time. Each figure has its own link, so you can send readers straight to it.
How these figures are put together
Every figure on this page comes from the published source linked beside it and applies to the period shown with it. Figures are copied as published. Nothing is estimated, adjusted or combined from different sources.
Each figure is checked against its source when the page is reviewed, and the review date is shown at the top of the page. If a source publishes a newer figure before then, or you spot an error, let us know through the contact page.
Sources
- World Steel Association (worldsteel): World Steel in Figures 2026. Published 4 June 2026. The publication says its data was finalised on 8 June 2026. Pages 9, 10, 18, 20 and 28. worldsteel credits its iron ore table to RMG Consulting. Updates: Annual, each June. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- World Steel Association (worldsteel): Annual steel data: production and trade, Australia. worldsteel Steel Data Viewer, indicators Total production of crude steel, Exports of semi-finished and finished steel products, and Imports of semi-finished and finished steel products, in thousand tonnes, 2021 to 2025. Last updated on 28 July 2026. worldsteel gives its Steel Statistical Yearbook as the source. Updates: Annual, with revisions. The page shows the date it was last updated. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- World Steel Association (worldsteel): Annual steel data: apparent steel use, Australia. worldsteel Steel Data Viewer, indicators Apparent steel use (finished steel products), in thousand tonnes, and Apparent steel use per capita (finished steel products), in kilograms, 2020 to 2024. Last updated on 4 December 2025. Updates: Annual. The 2025 Steel Statistical Yearbook was published on 4 December 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Australian Industry, 2024-25 financial year. ABS Economic Activity Survey and Australian Taxation Office business activity statement data. Data cube 81550DO003 (Manufacturing industry), Table 1, Manufacturing industry by ANZSIC class, released 19 June 2026. Updates: Annual. The ABS lists the next release date as unknown. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, July 2021 to June 2025 (data cube 2). ANZSIC classes 2110, 2121, 2122, 2210 and 2221 from the ABS Business Register. Data cube 2 (8165DC02.xlsx), Table 1, released 16 December 2025. Updates: Annual. Industry class detail is released each December. A newer edition, July 2022 to June 2026, was released on 18 August 2026 without class detail; the ABS lists its next release as 18 December 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
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