China's steel industry enters the "new quality track", 95.1% of steel enterprises continue to implement digital transformation and upgrading

Jiang Wei, Vice President of China Iron And Steel Industry Association: Due to the ultra-low emission transformation project, the emission intensity of the steel industry has decreased by more than half compared to 2018, and the environmental performance has reached the international leading level. It can also synergistically reduce carbon emissions by 1% to 2%.On August 7, 2025, the 14th China International Steel Conference was held in Shanghai. For the first time, the conference has included "new quality productivity" as the theme, and the pace of intelligent manufacturing and green low-carbon development in China's steel industry has significantly accelerated.
The reporter learned from the conference that since the beginning of this year, China's steel enterprises have accelerated technological iteration, achieving comprehensive improvement in production efficiency, energy utilization level, and product quality. At present, 95.1% of steel enterprises in China have incorporated digital transformation strategies into their overall development process and continue to implement digital transformation and upgrading
Robots, including unmanned equipment, have an application density of 65 units per 10000 people;
82.9% of enterprises have built intelligent centralized control centers;
63.4% of enterprises use 3D visualization simulation systems to build digital factories.

Jiang Wei, Vice President of China Iron and Steel Industry Association: In terms of digital transformation, the application of digital technology alone in the field of steel energy conservation can achieve energy savings and carbon reduction of up to 15%; In terms of ultimate energy efficiency, a total of 117 steel companies with a production capacity of approximately 660 million tons have participated in the cultivation of energy efficiency benchmark demonstration plants for the best practice of "dual carbon".
The relevant person in charge of China Iron and Steel Industry Association introduced that China has formulated the strictest ultra-low emission limit requirements in the world, and some indicators have ultra-low emission limits, which are about 10 times stricter than the average of developed economies in the world.
Jiang Wei, Vice President of China Iron and Steel Industry Association: According to data from energy efficiency benchmark cultivation enterprises, the total energy savings achieved by the steel industry in 2024 reached 10.5 million tons of standard coal, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 27.5 million tons, or the annual carbon sink equivalent to planting 570 million trees.
China releases its first ultra-low emission blue book for the steel industry
At the 14th China International Steel Conference, the Blue Book on Ultra Low Emissions in China's steel industry was also released for the first time. Data shows that from a major energy consumer to a pioneer in carbon reduction, the Chinese steel industry is undergoing a transformative low-carbon revolution, exploring a practical and feasible path for the global steel industry's green transformation.
The Blue Book reveals that China's steel industry is currently vigorously promoting three major transformation projects: ultra-low emissions, extreme energy efficiency, and digital transformation. As of July this year, 197 steel companies have completed the full or partial process ultra-low emission transformation public announcement. The country's 600 million tons of crude steel production capacity has completed the full process ultra-low emission transformation, and 350 million tons of crude steel production capacity has completed key engineering transformation.
He Wenbo, Executive Chairman of China Iron and Steel Industry Association: By 2025, 80% of all production capacity will undergo ultra-low emission transformation and meet new emission standards. This standard is the most stringent pollutant emission standard proposed by China for the steel production process in the world so far. The increase in funding for ultra-low emission transformation in China's steel industry has exceeded 300 billion yuan.
China's steel industry is led by the "dual carbon" goal, vigorously promoting policy standards, technological breakthroughs, and industrial chain collaboration. At present, China has established the world's largest clean steel production system.