Japan: Steel industry’s CO2 emissions decrease by over 25% in FY’24 compared to FY’13

Japan Metal Daily: The Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) announced on 9 February 2026 that the steel industry’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in FY’24 decreased by 25.8% compared to FY13, which is the base year. In addition to the decrease in energy consumption due to the decline in production activities, the reduction was also due the expanding use of steel scrap and promoting energy conservation.

The FY30 target of the federation’s ‘Carbon Neutrality Action Plan’ is to reduce it by 30% compared to FY’13. The achievement rate against the FY’24 target is about 86%.

According to JISF, CO2 emissions from companies participating in the carbon neutrality action plan in FY’24 were 144.23 million tonnes (mnt). The total, including non-participating companies, was 147.78 mnt.

Crude steel production in FY’24 was 82.95 mnt, a decrease of about 26% compared to FY’13. With the decrease in energy consumption due to the decline in production activities, CO2 emissions also decreased significantly. Of the 50.2 mnt of emissions reduction of companies participating in the action plan compared to FY’13, 44.31 mnt, or about 88%, were due to production fluctuations. On the other hand, there were also effects such as promoting energy conservation (640,000 t) and utilising raw materials and fuels (2.59 mnt).

When production activity declines, the emission intensity per ton of crude steel generally deteriorates. The intensity index in FY’24 increased by about 6% compared to FY’13 with 94.5. However, crude steel production remained at a low level of FY’18, which was 99 mnt.

We also announced an estimated amount of contribution to reducing CO2 emissions by high-performance steel products (5 types), which are published every year. In FY’24, it contributed to a reduction of 34.89 mnt in Japan and overseas.