The construction sector is a major consumer of steel, accounting for over 50% of global demand. Steel is essential for supporting structures ranging from residential houses and schools to parking facilities and skyscrapers. It is also widely used in cladding for roofs and building facades.

A 2019 UN report forecasts that the global population will grow by 2 billion within 30 years, rising from 7.7 billion to 9.7 billion by 2050. This growth will be coupled with rapid urbanization. As the need for buildings and infrastructure expands worldwide, reducing the consumption of natural resources and associated emissions has become crucial for sustainable development.

Steel is not only economical, widely available, and safe, but its intrinsic properties—including high strength, versatility, durability, and 100% recyclability—also enhance the environmental performance of structures throughout their lifecycle.

Furthermore, high-strength steel sheets are used in numerous related industries, such as offshore oil rigs, bridges, civil engineering projects, construction machinery, railway wagons, storage tanks, and pressure vessels. All these applications take advantage of the properties of modern steel.

Application in Construction
How Steel is Used in Construction and Infrastructure
The potential uses of steel in buildings and infrastructure are vast. Below are some of the most common applications:

In Buildings:

• Structural Sections: providing a robust, stiff frame, accounting for 25% of building steel use.
• Reinforcement: enhancing the tensile strength and rigidity of concrete, comprising 44% of the steel used in construction. Steel bonds effectively with concrete, shares a similar thermal expansion coefficient, and offers cost-effective strength. Reinforced concrete is also used in deep foundations and is a primary building material globally.
• Panel Products: used in roofs, purlins, interior walls, ceilings, cladding, and insulation, making up 31% of steel applications.
• Non-structural Steel: employed in mechanical systems including heating, cooling, and plumbing.
• Interior Fixtures: such as stairs, railings, and shelving, are also frequently made from steel.
  
  

In Infrastructure:

• Transportation Networks: steel is required in bridges, tunnels, railways, train stations, gas stations, ports, and airports. Approximately 60% of this steel is used as reinforcement, with the remainder comprising sections, plates, and rails.
• Utilities (Fuel, Water, Power): over half of the steel used here goes into underground pipelines for water and gas distribution. The rest is primarily rebar for power plants and pumping stations.

Automotive Industry
Construction Industry
Energy Industry
Food Industry
Machinery And Tool Industry
Medical Industry
Packaging Industry
Transportation Industry