History and objectives

The World Steel Association was founded as the International Iron and Steel Institute on 19 October 1967. It changed its name to World Steel Association on 6 October 2008.

worldsteel is a non-profit organisation with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. A second office in Beijing, China, opened in April 2006.

The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. worldsteel represents approximately 170 steel producers (including 17 of the world's 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. worldsteel members produce around 85% of the world's steel.

worldsteel acts as the focal point for the steel industry, providing global leadership on all major strategic issues affecting the industry, particularly focusing on economic, environmental and social sustainability.

worldsteel promotes steel and the steel industry to customers, the industry, media and the general public. It assists its members to develop the market for steel. worldsteel promotes a zero-accident working environment for steel industry employees and contractors.

worldsteel Milestones

1967

  • The International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) was established on 19 October.
  • There were 21 members from nine European countries plus Japan and the US, covering three regions of the world.
  • Ten of the 21 members were regional and national associations.

1970s 

  • Membership covered five regions, with companies joining from India, Brazil and Argentina.
  • POSCO (Korea) joined as an associate member.

1980s 

  • Membership covered seven regions.
  • China Steel Corporation (Taiwan,1980) and Hyundai - originally Inchon Steel - (Korea,1985) joined as associate members.

1990s

  • First Russian member (International Metallurgists Union, as an affilated member).
  • It was a slow decade for recruitment of regular members but a large number of associate and affiliate members joined.
  • 1993: sustainable development policy agreed
  • 1994: annual International Management Seminar (IMS) started
  • 1995: IISI took over the Ultra Light Steel Auto Body (ULSAB) programme
  • 1997: publication of the first steel industry life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis to ISO standards.

2000s

  • 2000: Nucor (US) joined as the first electric arc furnace member company
  • 2001: the first Russian steel-producing member joined (Severstal)
  • 2003: steeluniversity was launched and the climate change policy agreed
  • 2004: formal entry of the five largest Chinese producers as members (Baosteel, Anshan, Handan, Shougang, Wuhan), plus CISA (China Iron and Steel Association)
  • 2005: the first Sustainability Report was published and the Living Steel programme started; the second major Russian company (Evraz) joined
  • 2006: the safety and health principles were agreed and launched; the Beijing office was opened
  • 2008: IISI changed its name to World Steel Association (worldsteel)
  • 2009: Climate Action was launched

2010s

  • 2010: the first Steel Awards, or Steelies, ceremony was held at the annual conference
  • 2011: Ian Christmas retired as Director General of worldsteel and was succeded by Dr Edwin Basson