Supply and demand of the steel industry in the EU Countries and the PR China

This publication gives an overview of the major players in the world iron ore and coal markets. The steel industry of the EU-25, in particular of Germany, and of the PR China, as two major economies, are described as an example. The processes involved in technological growth usually plot along a sigmoidal curve. The growth rates of global steel consumption in the previous century averaged over five years precisely reflect this situation. However, it is notable that the curve became steeper again in the 1990s, what can be interpreted as the beginning of a new growth curve which is now being entered by countries such as China, India and others. The growing global demand in mineral resources is at the beginning of a new growth curve.