Flat Steel Market: Information by Product Type (Slabs, Hot-Rolled Coil, Cold-Rolled Coil, Sheets & Strips, Tinplate, Coated Steel, and Others), End-Use Industry (Building & Construction, Automotive & Transportation, Machinery, Electronics, Consumer Goods & Appliances, Oil & Gas, Energy, and Others), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa) — Global Forecast till 2030

Flat Steel Market Overview

The flat steel market is expected to gain a market value of USD 768.18 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2022-2030.

Flat steel is a form of steel rolled from slabs and primarily used in the production of sheets, plates, structural beams, and strips. Due to their unique properties, these products can be used in many industries, mostly in the building, transportation, and electrical appliance industries.

The major factor driving the flat steel market is rising investments in construction and infrastructure owing to growing urbanization, resulting in increased demand for high-quality materials from the flat steel industry. The flat steel industry maintains a minimal carbon footprint. According to the World Steel Association, building operations account for about 28% of the world's carbon emissions. Flat steel products are more sustainable than other building materials, as they provide this versatility and recyclability, which drives product demand for improved building environments. However, raw material procurement risk and fluctuations in raw material prices are expected to hinder the flat steel market growth. The total production volume of flat finished steel products in India was approximately 53.7 million metric tons in 2021.

COVID-19 Analysis

The flat steel market is highly impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments worldwide imposed lockdowns which affected the construction and automotive sectors, the two huge contributors to the flat steel market. Lockdowns and restrictions resulted in a labor shortage, disrupted the supply chain, and shortage of raw materials. Due to all these factors, the flat steel market saw a scarcity of demand. But post-pandemic, as the world is returning to normalcy, the flat steel market is expected to grow in the forecast period.

Market Dynamics

The flat steel market is influenced by many factors, and the positive factors are called market drivers, whereas the factors responsible for hampering the market Demand are called market restraints.

Market drivers

The drivers in the market are rapid industrialization and advancement of technology in automobile, construction, packaging Industries, and defense.  One of the major drivers in the market is the rapid growth of buildings and construction sectors. Rapid urbanization plays a huge part in the flat steel market size growth.  Due to so many features of flat steel, it is used in many construction works, with the economic growth and increasing per capita income of people driving the market. People are investing highly in Consumer products, and to increase their lifestyle and it is having a positive impact on the market. Another major driver in the flat steel market size is the growth of the automotive industry. Flat steel is used in the manufacturing of panels, automobile parts, gears, fuel tanks, engine blocks, doors, and braking systems. The increasing adoption of advanced high-strength steel in automotive manufacturing to reduce weight is fueling the flat steel industry. The use of flat steel can reduce the overall weight of the automobile baby 25-39% as compared to other steel. Additionally, the use of steel in an electric vehicle is expected to grow in the forecast period of the flat steel market. The use of flat steel can reduce the life cycle emission by 70%.  To reduce the emission of CO2, the government has shifted the production of electronic vehicles; as a result, it will increase the flat steel market score in the coming years.

Market opportunities

Growing consumer awareness towards the adoption of flat steel to take various advantages such as high strength, flexible design, low maintenance, and construction cost generating opportunities for the market. Increasing demand for electric vehicles with environmental awareness will bring more opportunities for the market in the forecast period. Furthermore, the increasing economics and income of people will be beneficial for the market. Growing government investment in infrastructure development and urbanization will boost the market.

Market restraints

One of the major restraints in the market is high investment costs. The high cost of blast furnace production has a severe impact on the profit of the steel manufacturers. Also, the fluctuation in the price of iron ore is a major restraint hampering the flat steel market scope.

Market challenges

Manufacturers are more focused on steel recycling than steel production due to environmental factors. Recycling steel is easier and more cost-effective than the production of steel. That is why it has become a major challenge for the flat steel market. The key players of the flat steel market and the drivers are trying to overcome these challenges and boost the growth of the flat steel market.

Cumulative growth analysis

Flat steel has a wide range of applications in the construction, automotive, defense, packaging Industries. Raising demand for doors, trunk, and consumer products with increasing per capita income will boost the flat steel market in the forecast period. The flat steel market analysis the market will see rapid growth worth USD 768.16 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period (2021 - 2028).

Market segmentation

The flat steel market is segmented into product type, end-user, and region.

• 
  By product type- By product type, the flat steel market is further divided into slabs, cold-rolled coils sheets hit rolled coils coated steel, and others. The best and strips were responsible for the highest flat steel market share in 2018. It is due to the increasing application in packaging, electronics, and home appliances.
  


• 
  By end-user- By end-user, the global flat steel market is divided into construction and building, machinery, automotive and transportation, electronics, consumer goods, energy, oil & gas, and others.
  


• By regions-

Regional analysis

The major regions in the flat steel market are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other regions in the world. The Asia Pacific holds the highest flat steel market share according to the flat steel market outlook. Increasing economics, Industrial base in the countries such as Thailand, India, South Korea, and others is contributing highly to the market in this region.  Increasing per capita income of the people and increased the construction activities in the region. As a result, it has fueled the demand for the flat steel market in this region. North America holds the second-highest flat steel market share owing to the increasing automotive sector in the region. The demand for passenger cars, commercial vehicles in the US is boosting the demand for the flat steel market. The European region will also see rapid growth in the forecast period as well due to the rising consumer base.

Competitive landscape

The major key players in the flat steel industry are:

• ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg),


• POSCO (South Korea),


• Jiangsu Shagang Group (China),


• ChinaSteel (China),


• Jianlong Group (China),


• Maanshan Iron & Steel Company Limited (China),


• ThyssenKrupp AG (India),


• JFE Steel Corporation (Japan),


• Albawardi Steel Industries (Saudi Arabia),


• NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION (Japan),


• Tata Steel (India),


• Nucor Corporation (US),


• SABIC (Saudi Arabia),


• Hyundai Steel (South Korea),


• AGIS (UAE), Voestalpine AG (Austria),


• Severstal Russian Steel (Russia),


• NLMK (Russia),


• Essar Steel (India),


• ShaabanSteel (Saudi Arabia),


• ATI (US),


• CITIC LIMITED (China),


• Baosteel Group (China),


• Laiwu Steel Group Limited (China)


• Gerdau S/A (Brazil),


• Hebei Puyang Iron and Steel Group (China),


• SSAB AB (Sweden),


• SAIL (India),


• METINVEST HOLDING,


• LLC (Ukraine), 


• JSW (India)

Recent developments

• In October 2021, Steel Dynamics Inc. exposed its plans to acquire a marginal interest in a Houston-based metal products manufacturer and supply chain management company. The financial term of the contract is unknown. The company will purchase a share of over 45% in New Process Steel LP. New Process Steel LP is the largest customer of Steel Dynamics and has more than 950 workers.


• In October 2021, Cleveland-Cliffs announced that it would enter the scrap metal business with an acquisition worth approximately USD 775 million.


• In December 2019, ArcelorMittal declared the acquisition of Essar Steel India Limited (ESIL),


• In November 2019, POSCO announced INNOVILT; a premium brand of steel products made for the construction industry.