Just about everything we use either contains steel or has been made using steel. Whether it is bolts or buildings, clothes or chemicals, food or fast cars, lamps or lemonade, all depend on steel at some point. Even industries producing other materials like glass, aluminium and plastics, all need steel.
The UK steel industry makes a valuable contribution to the economy. In 2008 it contributed £2.9 billion to our balance of trade.
The UK steel industry is modern, efficient and environmentally responsible. The largest UK producer, Corus, is a leading member of a European consortium investing in a multi-million euro project to develop a next generation, low carbon steelmaking technology.
Steel is the most recycled material in the world. More waste steel is recovered in the UK and recycled than all other materials combined. Each tonne of scrap recycled by the steel industry saves 1.9 tonnes of iron ore and 0.6 tonnes of coal.
These pages are a resource to explain more about the UK steel industry.