POSCO

Integrated steelmaking, scrap-based production and steel by-product management

POSCO reports 2.092 million tonnes of domestic and imported scrap purchases in 2025, commercial low-carbon-steel sales using double scrap charging, and recycling of slag, dust and sludge. It also reports a by-product recycling rate above 98%. These disclosures do not establish a new supplier contract, available capacity or a project-specific buyer.

2.092M t 2025 domestic and imported scrap purchases

>98% Reported steel by-product recycling rate

10% Target CO2 reduction for double scrap charging

2026 Gwangyang EAF operation planned

• Domestic and imported ferrous scrap
• Steelmaking by-products including slag, dust and sludge
• Recycled refractories and recoverable copper streams

Outputs and residuals to resolve

• Steel products, including low-carbon steel routes
• Cement-clinker substitute or aggregate-grade slag where standards permit
• Recovered resources and managed designated waste

First decision: Select one physical stream and one compliant destination. Establish grade, chemistry, contamination, logistics, standard and buyer acceptance before modeling avoided virgin inputs.

POSCO reports 2.092 million tonnes of domestic and imported scrap purchased in 2025, costing KRW 939.6 billion.

Steel route

The company reports commercial sales of low-carbon steel made with double scrap charging and an EAF planned for Gwangyang operation in 2026.

By-product route

POSCO describes recycling slag, dust and sludge, with blast-furnace slag positioned for cement clinker substitution where the relevant standard and application permit it.

Evidence boundary

The public record supports these operations and targets. It does not identify a new feedstock source, contracted tonnage or project-level product allocation.

Decision boundary

POSCO has real scale in both scrap purchasing and by-product management. The first useful artifact is a material passport for one stream, not a company-wide circularity score.

This is a public screening map. It separates company-disclosed flows from open qualification work. It does not convert a destination into a buyer or an announced ambition into operating capacity.

Scrap-quality qualification

Scrap scale is public. The differentiator is consistent chemistry and delivery into a named production route.

Next evidence: Grade mix, residual elements, transport terms and mill acceptance criteria.

Standardize one slag end use

Slag can only displace clinker or aggregate when its chemistry and standard fit are documented.

Next evidence: Material testing, applicable standard, local code and end-user approval.

Make the EAF transition operational

The planned Gwangyang EAF changes the scrap question from abstract demand to plant commissioning readiness.

Next evidence: Commissioning schedule, scrap specification, power assumptions and product allocation.

• 2025 Sustainability Report POSCO ESG https://sustainability.posco.com/S91/S91F10/eng/cmspage.do?cmspreview=T&mmcd=2645996979005384
• Environmental Impact and circular economy POSCO ESG https://sustainability.posco.com/S91/S91F10/eng/cmspage.do?cmspreview=T&mmcd=2676068505003784
• Climate Change and low-carbon steel POSCO ESG https://sustainability.posco.com/S91/S91F10/eng/cmspage.do?mmcd=2648825310001953

Source hierarchy: filings and company disclosures first. The brief states what those sources support and leaves the unresolved plant, grade, permit, buyer and mass-balance questions explicit.

The next useful working session starts with: Select one physical stream and one compliant destination. Establish grade, chemistry, contamination, logistics, standard and buyer acceptance before modeling avoided virgin inputs.