Hyundai Steel, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, has begun mass production of carbon-reduced steel plates, cutting carbon emissions by around 20 percent compared with conventional blast furnace steel, the group announced.
The achievement was realized through a hybrid production process combining molten iron from both a blast furnace (BF) and an electric arc furnace (EAF). According to the company, this marks the first time a BF–EAF composite route has been deployed at commercial scale to produce carbon-reduced steel plates.
Preparations for the new production route started in April 2023, when Hyundai Steel conducted pilot trials at its Dangjin Steelworks, using an existing EAF. The trials focused on process stability, productivity, and product quality.
Following customer testing and approval procedures, 25 steel grades have received certification, including two carbon-reduced plate grades that have now entered mass production. The company plans to expand certification to 53 grades, adding 28 additional grades later this year.
The initial application will be within the automotive sector, in line with the decarbonization strategies of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation. Both automakers are set to begin using carbon-reduced steel in selected domestic and European vehicle models starting this year.
Hyundai Steel will supply core automotive sheet grades in carbon-reduced form, with plans to gradually expand both product range and supply volumes.
Beyond automotive use, the company is also targeting the energy sector. It has completed production and evaluation of carbon-reduced heavy plates for offshore wind turbine substructures, with additional global certifications and performance tests currently under way.
Company officials said the hybrid BF–EAF process will enable Hyundai Steel to respond to growing global demand for lower-emission steel across industries including automotive and renewable energy.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
