Structural steel is a versatile construction material that combines manufacturing versatility and structural strength. It has low weight and is used for commercial and residential infrastructure construction. Structural steel is used in building and construction projects. It is carbon steel with 2.1% carbon by weight. Carbon is the second-most essential ingredient in carbon steel after iron. Increasing the quantity of carbon in steel leads to materials with high strength but low ductility. The carbon amount or content required depends on how the steel will be utilized.

2022年，重点统计钢铁企业产钢81545.68万吨，同比降低2.07%，占全国钢产量的80.50%；其他企业产钢19754.32万吨，同比下降2.22%，说明钢铁产业集中度在升高。2022年，中钢协会员单位（以下简称会员单位）转炉钢产量71799.98万吨，同比降低1.30%，占重点企业钢产量的88.05%；电炉钢产量4025.95万吨，比上年降低11.85%；其他炉钢产量359.32万吨，比上年下降2.24%。可以看出，我国钢的质量需求在变化，钢的品种和结构能满足市场需求，体现出我国炼钢技术进步发生的变化。