Resolution criteria

This market resolves YES if the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2030 report (or equivalent USGS publication) reports that combined world iron slag and steel slag production midpoints sum to greater than 600 million tonnes. The resolution source will be the official USGS publication available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/iron-and-steel-slag-statistics-and-information. If the USGS does not publish 2030 data by the market resolution date, the market resolves N/A.

Background

In 2023, world iron slag production was estimated to be between 330 million and 390 million tons, and steel slag production was estimated to be between 190 million and 290 million tons. This means the combined midpoint for 2023 was approximately 520 million tonnes (360 + 240). The global Iron and Steel Slag Market has shown a consistent upward trajectory, with industrial utilization surpassing 280 million tons in 2024 compared to 273 million tons in 2023. Slag is a byproduct of iron and steel manufacturing, with iron slag production from blast furnaces estimated to be 25% to 30% of crude (pig) iron production, and steel furnace slag production estimated to be 10% to 15% of raw steel production.