재활용 강철 시장은 2024년에 2,806억 3,000만 달러로 평가되었습니다. 2030년에는 CAGR 5.98%로 4,012억 1,000만 달러에 이를 것으로 예측됩니다.
재활용 철강 시장이란 새로운 철강 제품을 생산하기 위해 철 스크랩을 회수, 가공, 재사용하는 산업을 말합니다. 이 시장은 환경 지속가능성을 촉진하고, 처녀 원료에 대한 의존도를 낮추며, 철강 생산에 따른 탄소 배출량을 줄이는 데 중요한 역할을 하고 있습니다. 재활용 철강의 주요 원료는 폐차, 가전제품, 건설자재 등 소비자용 스크랩과 제조 공정에서 발생하는 단재, 선반가공품, 불량강재 등 산업용 스크랩의 두 가지로 나뉩니다. 재활용 철강 산업은 철강의 핵심적인 특성을 잃지 않고 여러 번 재사용할 수 있도록 함으로써 순환경제를 뒷받침하고 있습니다.
| 시장 개요 | |
|---|---|
| 예측 기간 | 2026-2030년 |
| 시장 규모 : 2024년 | 2,806억 3,000만 달러 |
| 시장 규모 : 2030년 | 4,012억 1,000만 달러 |
| CAGR : 2025-2030년 | 5.98% |
| 급성장 부문 | 비철금속 |
| 최대 시장 | 북미 |
스크랩 수집, 파쇄, 선별, 전기로에서 용해, 신제품 주조 등 다양한 활동을 포함합니다. 재활용 철강은 자동차, 건설, 산업설비, 조선, 포장, 인프라 개발 등 다양한 분야에서 폭넓게 사용되고 있습니다. 철강은 전 세계적으로 가장 널리 사용되는 소재 중 하나이기 때문에 지속 가능하고 비용 효율적인 생산 방법이 요구되고 있으며, 선진국과 신흥 경제국을 막론하고 철강 재활용의 도입이 진행되고 있습니다. 재활용 철강 시장에서는 버진 광석을 사용하는 경우와 비교하여 생산 공정에서 에너지 소비가 적다는 장점이 있어 환경 영향을 줄이고 규제 목표를 달성하고자 하는 제조업체에게 선호되는 선택이 되고 있습니다.
선별 기술 향상, 센서식 분리 시스템, 에너지 효율이 높은 용광로 등 재활용 시설의 기술 발전으로 재활용 철강의 품질과 생산량이 크게 향상되었습니다. 또한, 자원 보호에 대한 인식이 높아지고 녹색 건축 기준, 폐기물 관리 규제 및 순환 경제 정책에 따른 정부 지원 증가는 시장 확대에 더욱 박차를 가하고 있습니다. 전 세계적인 도시화의 진전과 인프라의 현대화로 인해 대량의 철 스크랩이 지속적으로 발생하여 재활용 사업에 안정적인 공급이 보장되고 있습니다. 또한, 생산 비용 절감 및 원료 조달 가격 안정과 같은 재활용 철강의 경제적 이점으로 인해 철 스크랩은 철강 공급망에서 없어서는 안 될 중요한 부분이 되었습니다. 신흥국에서는 산업화의 진전과 건설 활동의 활성화가 비용 효율적이고 친환경적인 버진 스틸의 대체재로 재활용 강철에 대한 수요 증가에 기여하고 있습니다.
지속가능성과 순환 경제에 대한 중요성 증대
재활용 철강의 품질 불일치 및 오염 문제
지속 가능한 건설과 녹색건축 인증에 대한 중요성 증대
The Recycled Steel Market was valued at USD 280.63 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 401.21 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.98%. The recycled steel market refers to the industry involved in the collection, processing, and reuse of scrap steel to manufacture new steel products. This market plays a critical role in promoting environmental sustainability, reducing the reliance on virgin raw materials, and lowering carbon emissions associated with steel production. Recycled steel is primarily derived from two sources: post-consumer scrap, such as decommissioned vehicles, appliances, and construction materials; and industrial scrap, which includes offcuts, turnings, and defective steel from manufacturing processes. The recycled steel industry supports a circular economy by enabling steel to be reused multiple times without losing its core properties.
| Market Overview | |
|---|---|
| Forecast Period | 2026-2030 |
| Market Size 2024 | USD 280.63 Billion |
| Market Size 2030 | USD 401.21 Billion |
| CAGR 2025-2030 | 5.98% |
| Fastest Growing Segment | Non-ferrous |
| Largest Market | North America |
The market encompasses a broad range of activities including scrap collection, shredding, sorting, melting in electric arc furnaces, and casting into new products. Recycled steel is used extensively across various sectors such as automotive, construction, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, packaging, and infrastructure development. As steel is one of the most widely used materials globally, the need for sustainable and cost-effective production methods has driven the adoption of steel recycling across both developed and developing economies. The recycled steel market benefits from lower energy consumption in the production process compared to using virgin ores, making it a preferred choice for manufacturers aiming to reduce their environmental impact and meet regulatory targets.
Technological advancements in recycling facilities, such as improved sorting technologies, sensor-based separation systems, and energy-efficient furnaces, have significantly enhanced the quality and output of recycled steel. Moreover, rising awareness of resource conservation and increased government support through green building codes, waste management regulations, and circular economy policies have further fueled market expansion. The growth of urbanization and infrastructure modernization globally continues to generate substantial volumes of steel scrap, thereby ensuring a steady supply for recycling operations. Additionally, the economic benefits of recycled steel, including reduced production costs and price stability in raw material sourcing, have made it an integral part of steel supply chains. In emerging economies, growing industrialization and increased construction activity are contributing to the rising demand for recycled steel as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to virgin steel.
Key Market Drivers
Growing Emphasis on Sustainability and Circular Economy Practices
The increasing global emphasis on sustainability and the circular economy has emerged as a primary driver for the recycled steel market, as industries, governments, and consumers collectively prioritize resource conservation and carbon footprint reduction. Recycled steel plays a critical role in reducing environmental impact by minimizing the need for virgin ore extraction and lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with steel production. Unlike many materials, steel can be recycled indefinitely without losing its structural properties, making it an ideal candidate for circular economic models that emphasize reuse, repurposing, and recycling. Governments across developed and developing regions are implementing regulations and incentives that promote environmentally responsible manufacturing practices, including mandatory recycling targets, emissions reduction mandates, and carbon credit systems.
These regulatory frameworks are encouraging steel producers to shift towards electric arc furnace (EAF) technologies that rely primarily on scrap steel rather than traditional blast furnace methods. Moreover, corporations in automotive, construction, appliances, and packaging sectors are increasingly integrating sustainability into their supply chain strategies, driving up demand for eco-friendly materials such as recycled steel. Many companies are aligning their procurement policies with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, often mandating the use of recycled content in production to demonstrate climate-conscious operations to investors and stakeholders. Consumer preferences are also shifting, with growing awareness around the environmental impact of material sourcing and an increasing demand for sustainable products. As a result, recycled steel is gaining traction not only as an economically viable raw material but also as a sustainable alternative that supports brand reputation and long-term resource efficiency.
Additionally, international collaborations and initiatives focused on climate change and industrial sustainability-such as net-zero goals and the Paris Agreement-are encouraging countries and companies to embrace circular materials management, further stimulating investments in steel recycling infrastructure. The ability of recycled steel to reduce energy consumption by as much as 60-70% compared to primary steel production adds significant value in a market environment where energy efficiency and decarbonization are becoming key business imperatives. The adoption of circular economy principles is no longer limited to industrial policy but is becoming deeply integrated into corporate strategy, municipal planning, and even consumer expectations. This macroeconomic and sociopolitical push towards resource sustainability makes recycled steel an essential material for industries that aim to balance profitability with environmental responsibility, thereby reinforcing its critical position in global manufacturing ecosystems. Overall, as circular economy practices gain wider adoption and sustainability becomes central to industrial development, the demand for recycled steel is expected to witness consistent and long-term growth across multiple end-use sectors. Global corporate adoption of circular economy practices has increased by over 35% in the past five years. Use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies in industrial processes has grown by approximately 30% worldwide. Investments in waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery initiatives have risen by nearly 25% across key regions. Implementation of green manufacturing and renewable energy integration has expanded by around 20% globally. Corporate sustainability reporting and ESG compliance adoption rates have increased by roughly 40% among major industries worldwide.
Key Market Challenges
Quality Inconsistencies and Contamination Issues in Recycled Steel
One of the most pressing challenges facing the recycled steel market is the issue of quality inconsistencies and contamination in scrap materials, which significantly affect the reliability, strength, and usability of the final product. Steel recycling involves collecting scrap from various sources, including end-of-life vehicles, construction debris, appliances, and industrial waste. However, these sources often contain mixed metals, coatings, paints, oils, and other contaminants that can compromise the purity of the recycled steel. When impurities such as copper, tin, or other alloying elements enter the steel recycling stream in uncontrolled quantities, they can cause defects like cracking, brittleness, or unpredictable material properties during downstream manufacturing processes.
These quality issues limit the application of recycled steel in high-performance or safety-critical sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, where stringent material standards are non-negotiable. Moreover, variability in scrap quality can increase the costs and complexity of melting, refining, and alloying processes, requiring additional sorting, cleaning, and chemical treatment steps to ensure compliance with quality standards. As industries shift toward more advanced and lightweight steel grades, the demand for high-purity input materials becomes even more crucial, yet the recycled steel market struggles to meet these expectations consistently. The lack of standardized processes for scrap sorting and characterization adds another layer of complexity, as recyclers often operate with different levels of technology, expertise, and quality control.
This disparity leads to inefficiencies in the supply chain, making it difficult for steel manufacturers to predict the properties of recycled inputs and maintain consistency in production batches. Furthermore, automated scrap sorting technologies such as sensor-based systems or magnetic separation require significant capital investment, which may not be feasible for smaller recycling facilities, especially in developing regions. These technological gaps hinder the ability to produce high-grade recycled steel at scale, limiting its competitiveness with primary steel in certain applications. The absence of global quality benchmarks or harmonized standards for recycled steel further exacerbates the issue, as manufacturers may face challenges in cross-border trade or in meeting customer specifications.
In addition, consumer perception regarding the inferior quality of recycled steel compared to virgin steel still exists in some sectors, reinforcing a preference for primary materials even when recycled options are available. Addressing contamination and variability issues requires a multi-pronged approach involving investments in advanced processing technologies, stricter quality control protocols, and collaboration across the supply chain to implement standardized practices. Without such measures, the recycled steel market may struggle to fully capitalize on the sustainability momentum and circular economy policies that are otherwise driving demand across various industries.
Key Market Trends
Rising Emphasis on Sustainable Construction and Green Building Certifications
The recycled steel market is experiencing accelerated momentum due to the growing global focus on sustainability, particularly within the construction sector. As environmental regulations become more stringent and green building standards gain prominence, the demand for materials with low embodied carbon and minimal environmental impact is surging. Recycled steel is increasingly favored in this context, as it offers substantial reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions compared to virgin steel production. The shift toward sustainable infrastructure-such as green-certified office buildings, eco-friendly residential developments, and low-carbon public infrastructure-is reinforcing the role of recycled steel as a key construction input. Major urban infrastructure projects, government-backed affordable housing schemes, and private-sector real estate investments are adopting recycled steel to align with environmental benchmarks such as LEED, BREEAM, and EDGE.
Furthermore, builders and developers are integrating recycled materials into their procurement policies to improve ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance, attract green financing, and meet stakeholder expectations. As steel is one of the most recycled materials globally, its application in beams, columns, frames, and reinforcements is growing significantly in new builds and retrofitting projects alike. With countries targeting net-zero emissions and sustainable urbanization becoming a priority, the long-term outlook for recycled steel in construction remains strong. Governments in both developed and emerging markets are mandating higher usage of recyclable materials in infrastructure tenders, which further supports this trend. The construction industry's push for circular economy practices, combined with rising awareness among consumers and businesses, is making recycled steel an indispensable component of green construction initiatives across regions.
In this report, the Global Recycled Steel Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:
Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Recycled Steel Market.
Global Recycled Steel Market report with the given Market data, Tech Sci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report: