Manufacture of basic iron and steel

isic code 2410, 'Manufacture of basic iron and steel', represents a critical industry within the broader manufacturing sector. This industry is responsible for the production of primary iron and steel products, which serve as essential raw materials for a wide range of downstream industries, including construction, automotive, machinery, and infrastructure development. The importance of this industry cannot be overstated, as it underpins the growth and development of many other economic activities.

The manufacture of basic iron and steel involves several key production techniques. The primary method is the blast furnace process, where iron ore, coal, and limestone are combined and heated to high temperatures to produce pig iron. This pig iron is then further refined and processed in basic oxygen furnaces or electric arc furnaces to create various steel products, such as slabs, billets, and blooms. Additionally, secondary steel production techniques, such as scrap-based electric arc furnace steelmaking, play an important role in meeting global steel demand.

The manufacture of basic iron and steel requires several key inputs, including iron ore, coal, limestone, and scrap metal. These raw materials are essential for the production of pig iron and the subsequent conversion into various steel products. Additionally, the industry relies on specialized machinery, such as blast furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces, and rolling mills, as well as a skilled workforce to operate and maintain the production processes.

The primary outputs of the basic iron and steel manufacturing industry are a wide range of steel products, including 2431 Manufacture of steel tubes, pipes, hollow profiles and related fittings, 2432 Manufacture of steel wire products, 2511 Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures, and 2599 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.. These steel products are then consumed by numerous other industries, such as construction, automotive, machinery, and infrastructure development.