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UK Primary Steel Review
Published November 2025 by the Materials Processing Institute
This independent review considers the United Kingdom’s requirements and options for domestic primary iron production from iron ore, to supplement electric arc steel recycling in the 2020’s and 2030’s. It was commissioned on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Minister of State for Industry in January 2025, with the support of the UK Steel Council, and forms part of the inputs to the UK Steel Strategy announced by His Majesty’s Government in November 2025.
The review focuses on three areas:
- Demand: Current UK demand for steel products
- Production: Future demand for steel products
- Supply: Primary iron capability, relevant investments in other countries, and the primary iron supply chain
The review provides clear recommendations relating to the viability of technologies for production of primary steel, with focus on potential UK capability to derive iron from iron ore, to subsequently use in the steelmaking process.
These are supported by detailed sections on EAF steelmaking, potential recycled content of various steel types, the derivation and use of ore-based metallics, recent investment trends in competitor nations’ steelmaking, and a review of ‘Green Steel’ standards. Barriers to Carbon Capture and Use/Storage (CCUS) are also examined.
Approach
An expert assessment of the techno-economic issues, was supported by discussions held in confidence with steelmakers and the supply chain, particularly including organisational members of the UK Steel Council (Convened by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on 7th January 2025). Findings were triangulated with other inputs to the Steel Strategy, particularly around demand forecasts and recycled steel availability.
The Review may be downloaded here and interested parties are invited to a live webinar on 26th November when the authors will present a walk through of the Review and host a live Q&A:
Contents Link - UK Primary Steel Review
Full Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Terms of reference and approach to the review
Glossary
SECTION 1 — DEMAND FOR STEEL AND DEMAND FOR PRIMARY IRON UNITS
TABLE 2A-B-C: Steel production estimates with Recycled and Ore-Based Metallic demand forecast
FIGURE 13: New low emission DRI and EAF capacity planned in Western Europe 2025-2030
SECTION 4 — CONCLUSIONS AND OPTIONS
Consultees list and acknowledgements
References
APPENDIX 1 — H2DRI State of the art
APPENDIX 2 — Overview of carbon capture for blast furnace steelmaking
APPENDIX 3 — Selected representative data sheets
APPENDIX 4 — Selected “Green Steel” classifications
