Structural Steel Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Angles, Channels, Rounds), By Application (Non-Residential, Residential), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 128.19 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.01%
Fastest Growing Segment	Angles
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 181.94 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Structural Steel Market is projected to grow from USD 128.19 Billion in 2025 to USD 181.94 Billion by 2031 at a 6.01% CAGR. Structural steel constitutes a category of construction materials produced with specific cross sections and chemical compositions, primarily designed to form the load bearing framework of buildings and infrastructure. The market is fundamentally supported by rapid global urbanization and the subsequent requirement for robust infrastructure such as bridges, airports, and industrial facilities. Additionally, the material's high ratio of strength to weight and its recyclability appeal to the growing sector of sustainable construction, further propelling demand for residential and commercial projects.

However, the market faces significant hurdles related to geopolitical trade tensions and economic instability in key regions which can lead to volatile raw material costs. These factors often result in supply chain disruptions that hamper project timelines and impede growth. According to the World Steel Association, in 2025, global steel demand is projected to remain flat at approximately 1,749 million tonnes before anticipating a modest recovery in the following year. This stagnation represents a critical challenge for stakeholders aiming for consistent market expansion amidst fluctuating industrial activity.

Key Market Drivers

Rising Government Investments in Public Infrastructure Development serve as a primary catalyst for the structural steel market, particularly in emerging economies where rapid urbanization necessitates dense transport and utility networks. Sovereign entities are aggressively allocating fiscal budgets toward the construction of bridges, airports, and seismic-resistant public facilities, utilizing steel’s high strength-to-weight ratio to ensure long-term durability. This state-backed expenditure is critical for stabilizing the market, as it provides consistent demand for heavy structural sections even when private commercial real estate slows down. According to the World Steel Association, October 2025, in the 'Short Range Outlook', steel demand in India is projected to grow by approximately 9% over 2025 and 2026, a surge largely fueled by the country's extensive pipeline of government-funded infrastructure projects.

Simultaneously, the Expansion of the Industrial Manufacturing and Warehousing Sectors is fundamentally reshaping consumption patterns, driven by the global restructuring of supply chains and the booming digital economy. The urgent requirement for semiconductor fabrication plants, data centers, and large-scale distribution hubs favors structural steel due to its ability to facilitate rapid modular assembly and create vast clear-span interiors. This trend is particularly evident in North America; according to Associated Builders and Contractors, February 2025, in an analysis titled 'Data Centers & Manufacturing Led 94% of 2024 Construction Growth', these two specific segments accounted for 94% of the year-over-year increase in total U.S. non-residential construction spending. While some mature markets have faced recent contraction, a broader industrial revitalization is anticipated; according to Eurofer, in December 2025, apparent steel consumption in the European Union is forecast to recover by 3% in 2026, signaling renewed momentum for industrial steel application.

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Key Market Challenges

Geopolitical trade tensions and regional economic instability present a substantial barrier to the growth of the global structural steel market by introducing volatility into raw material costs. This unpredictability creates a difficult environment for contractors and developers who rely on stable pricing to manage long-term infrastructure and construction budgets. When input costs fluctuate sharply due to trade disputes or economic downturns, stakeholders frequently delay project commencements or halt ongoing work to mitigate financial risks. This directly leads to a slowdown in material procurement and supply chain continuity, hampering the industry's ability to maintain steady momentum.

These economic headwinds significantly impact consumption volumes in historically dominant regions, further straining the market. According to the World Steel Association, in 2025, steel demand in China is projected to decrease by 1.0 percent due to ongoing adjustments in the real estate sector. This decline in a primary consumption hub illustrates how regional economic uncertainty reduces the aggregate volume of structural steel required, thereby restricting the industry’s ability to achieve consistent expansion globally.

Key Market Trends

The Transition to Hydrogen-Based Green Steel Production is fundamentally altering the market's supply chain as manufacturers pivot from carbon-intensive blast furnaces to sustainable alternatives. This shift is driven by rigorous global decarbonization mandates requiring the adoption of electric arc furnaces (EAF) and hydrogen-reduction technologies to mitigate the industry's substantial environmental footprint. Unlike traditional methods dependent on coking coal, these advanced processes utilize direct reduced iron (DRI) to produce high-grade structural sections with significantly lower embodied carbon. A prominent instance of this capitalization is evident in Japan; according to ESG Today, June 2025, in the 'Nippon Steel to Invest $6 Billion to Decarbonize Steelmaking', the company committed approximately $6.05 billion to transition three domestic plants to electric arc furnace technology, aiming to significantly lower emissions while maintaining high-grade steel output.

Simultaneously, the Integration of Robotic Welding and Automated Fabrication Systems is gaining critical momentum as fabricators seek to neutralize severe skilled labor shortages and enhance production precision. By deploying collaborative robots and automated welding cells, steel companies are achieving higher throughput and consistent weld quality that manual processes cannot sustain, thereby optimizing operational margins against rising labor costs. This technological scaling is highlighted by major industry players; according to Lincoln Electric, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results', the company's automation portfolio achieved $911 million in sales and remained on track to surpass its $1 billion revenue target for 2025, underscoring the rapid industrial uptake of automated structural fabrication solutions.

Segmental Insights

The Angles segment is currently recording the fastest expansion within the Global Structural Steel Market, driven principally by the global surge in energy and telecommunication infrastructure. These steel sections serve as the primary component for constructing power transmission towers and communication masts because of their superior structural efficiency and ease of bolted connection. Furthermore, rapid urbanization in developing regions has necessitated extensive framing and reinforcement in new commercial developments, substantially increasing consumption. This critical role in expanding utility networks and general construction firmly positions the Angles segment at the forefront of market growth.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global structural steel market due to significant expansion in the construction industry. The region benefits from high demand in both residential and non-residential sectors, particularly for commercial buildings and industrial facilities. This growth is bolstered by increasing urbanization and substantial investments in infrastructure projects across the United States. Additionally, organizations such as the American Institute of Steel Construction establish rigorous standards that support industry stability and material adoption. These factors collectively drive the consistent demand for structural steel throughout the region.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, Zhongzhou (Tangshan) Steel successfully achieved mass production of a newly developed Q690-grade high-strength structural steel. This breakthrough product featured optimized alloy composition and advanced rolling processes, resulting in a 40% increase in yield strength and a significant weight reduction compared to traditional steel grades. The launch targeted major infrastructure projects such as long-span bridges and super high-rise buildings, where material efficiency and durability are critical. By enabling lighter structures, this innovation contributed to lower overall project costs and reduced steel consumption, aligning with the industry's broader goals of energy conservation and carbon reduction.
• In March 2025, JFE Steel Corporation and Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd. established a collaborative framework to optimize the supply of structural steel products, specifically H-beams, within the Japanese market. This strategic alliance allowed JFE Steel to introduce its partner as a supplier for selected structural sections to address customer needs more flexibly amidst labor shortages and rising logistics costs. The companies agreed to align their production systems to enhance efficiency and competitiveness while also addressing the growing demand for eco-friendly construction materials. This cooperation represented a proactive response to the contracting domestic construction sector and the push for carbon neutrality.
• In January 2025, Nucor Corporation announced plans to construct a new utility structures production facility in Brigham City, Utah, with an investment of $200 million. This expansion was designed to meet the growing demand for infrastructure related to distributed energy projects, data centers, and grid hardening in the western United States. The state-of-the-art plant was set to produce steel structures for utility applications, leveraging the company's existing steel production capabilities in the region. By localizing manufacturing, the company aimed to enhance supply chain efficiency and provide low-embodied carbon steel solutions for the modernizing energy grid.
• In October 2024, SSAB entered a strategic partnership with a modular building company to construct the world's first concept building entirely from fossil-free steel. This collaboration aimed to demonstrate the viability of sustainable materials in the structural steel market by utilizing steel produced with hydrogen-based technology, which largely eliminates carbon emissions from the production process. The project involved the use of a specialized steel cell technology for the building's frame, highlighting the potential for green structural solutions in urban development. The initiative marked a significant step toward reducing the climate impact of construction materials, with the model building scheduled for completion later in 2025.

Key Market Players

• Arcelor Mittal S.A.
• Baogang Group
• Evraz plc
• Gerdau S.A
• Nippon Steel Corporation
• JSW Steel Limited
• Tata Steel Limited
• Steel Authority of India Limited

By Product	By Application	By Region
Angles Channels Rounds	Non-Residential Residential	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Structural Steel Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Structural Steel Market, By Product:

• Angles
• Channels
• Rounds

• Structural Steel Market, By Application:

• Non-Residential
• Residential

• Structural Steel Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE