Rebar commodity
Lowest structural bandGlobal long-product market, highly cyclical.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength88
Heat resistance72
Fire performance84
Insulation8
Workability80
Circularity64
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is steel non-combustible?
As a metal it is Euroclass A1, but it loses yield in fire and usually needs protection for a rated duration.
Steel vs iron?
Steel is iron with controlled carbon (typically <2%) and alloys; cast iron has more carbon and a different solidification path.
Does steel insulate?
No. Thermal conductivity is tens of W/m·K. Insulation is a separate layer (mineral wool, boards, VIP).
Why does steel rust?
Iron oxidises in the presence of water and oxygen. Alloys, zinc, paint or concrete cover slow that.
Is stainless “stainless” forever?
No. Chlorides, crevices and wrong grades pit. 304 vs 316 is a chemistry choice, not a slogan.
Can steel be recycled endlessly?
Magnetically, yes as a family. Copper contamination and coatings constrain some high-spec loops.
heat 72 · fire 84
Prices are bands. A 2024 coil is not a 2026 contract. Labour and certification often dwarf the commodity.
Producers listed are landmarks for orientation, not a ranking or a procurement list.
Cost bands
Hot-rolled coil
Benchmark flatHRC is the price everyone quotes; it is not a finished car part.
AHSS / coated
Auto premiumDual-phase + zinc + bake-hardenable stacks add process cost.
Tool / bearing
Alloy premiumVacuum-melted cleanliness is the bill, not the iron units.
Green-steel trial
Policy premiumHydrogen-DRI tonnes still trade on certificates more than on mills’ list prices.
Regions
East Asia
China, Japan, Korea dominate primary tonnes and auto sheet quality.
EU
Carbon-border talk plus specialty and stainless clusters (Nordics, Germany, Italy).
North America
EAF mini-mills plus remaining integrated plants; auto AHSS demand.
India
Fast-growing primary capacity and construction demand.
Middle East
DRI on cheap gas; export billets.
Africa / LATAM
Ore exporters (Brazil, Australia via seaborne) and local long products.
Key numbers
~1.8–1.9 Gt / year (order of 2020s)World crude
EAF route ~30% of global crude, higher in USRecycled share
AHSS share of BIW rising each platform cycleAuto body
~2.9× aluminium — volume, not mass, is the design leverDensity vs Al
Producers
China Baowu
Largest crude-steel group by tonnes.
ArcelorMittal
Global flats, longs and mining footprint.
POSCO
Korean integrated mill; auto and electrical steels.
Nippon Steel
Japanese high-spec sheet and plates.
Nucor
US EAF mini-mill model.
Tata Steel
India + European operations, including IJmuiden heritage.
Ask for the route (primary, scrap, bio) before believing a green label.
Keep exploring
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