Coal-based steelmaking outpaces the industry’s low-emissions transition

An article from

Dive Brief

Electric arc furnaces grew by 1% over the past year to comprise 34% of global capacity, as steelmakers invest in existing blast furnaces, the Global Energy Monitor found.

Published May 12, 2026

A worker takes a sample of molten iron flowing from a blast furnace at the Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe steelworks on Nov. 9, 2021, in Duisburg, Germany. The Global Energy Monitor reported that coal-based steelmaking is outpacing the industry's low-emissions transition.