Industry Economics & Competitiveness

Industrial Steam Cost - China

Steam costs are part of the Industry Economics & Competitiveness in China report | Updated on July 6th, 2026

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Steam Price Chart

Steam Cost in China

The chart above illustrates Steam cost assessments, in US Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt), from May 2022 through May 2023, as described below:

  • Steam, HP, cash cost, on-site: Steam, High Pressure, China, cash cost, formula, on-site (typical consumer facility)
  • Steam, LP, contract price, exw: Steam, Low Pressure, China, contract price, exw, formula
  • Steam, MP, contract price, exw: Steam, Medium Pressure, China, contract price, exw, formula
  • Steam, HP, contract price, exw: Steam, High Pressure, China, contract price, exw, formula
  • Steam, LP, cash cost, on-site: Steam, Low Pressure, China, cash cost, formula, on-site (typical consumer facility)
  • Steam, MP, cash cost, on-site: Steam, Medium Pressure, China, cash cost, formula, on-site (typical consumer facility)
  • Steam, LP, cash cost, off-site: Steam, Low Pressure, China, cash cost, formula, off-site (large supplier)
  • Steam, HP, cash cost, off-site: Steam, High Pressure, China, cash cost, formula, off-site (large supplier)
  • Steam, MP, cash cost, off-site: Steam, Medium Pressure, China, cash cost, formula, off-site (large supplier)

In May 2023, the high-pressure steam on-site cash cost assessment for Steam in China reached 17.10 USD per metric ton, representing a 7.60% decrease from April 2023. Throughout the 12-month period, Steam on-site cash costs in China declined by 7% overall. May 2023 saw the low-pressure steam contract price valuation for Steam in China at 13.60 USD per metric ton, marking a 10.53% decline compared to the previous month. Over the past year, Steam low-pressure contract prices in China have decreased by 7%. The medium-pressure steam contract price valuation for Steam in China was assessed at 14.30 USD per metric ton in May 2023, down 10.63% from April 2023. Across the 12-month timeframe, Steam medium-pressure contract prices in China have fallen by 7%. During May 2023, the high-pressure steam contract price valuation for Steam in China was valued at 15.50 USD per metric ton, reflecting a 7.76% reduction from the prior month. Over the preceding 12 months, Steam high-pressure contract prices in China have declined by 8%.

The figures shown are illustrative and represent a historical sample from Intratec Industry Economics & Competitiveness. For up-to-date monthly competitiveness benchmarks and industrial cost data across 33 countries, subscribe to Intratec Industry Economics & Competitiveness.

Other Utility Costs

Steam is one of 10 industrial utilities priced monthly — reference data for cost analysis, project evaluation, and competitiveness studies

10 Utilities Priced Monthly

Steam, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and 6 other key process utilities.

Forward-Looking Series

Short-term forecasts on selected utilities.

10-Year Monthly History

A decade of monthly data for trend analysis and modeling.

Beyond Utility Costs

Industrial utility costs are part of the Industry Economics & Competitiveness subscription — a monthly program benchmarking commodities manufacturing competitiveness across 33 countries.

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33 Key Countries

Country-by-country monthly reports covering major industrial hubs — USA, China, Germany, Japan, Brazil, India, and more.

7 Industries Covered

Industry-specific rankings across olefins, aromatics, alcohols & organic acids, polymers, fertilizers, inorganic chemicals, and metals.

Reference Datasets

Country-level datasets for estimating individual cost items — labor, utility costs, plant construction costs, and location factors.

Monthly Updates

Fresh data every month, always reflecting the most recent period available, with short-term forecasts on selected series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly Steam assessments for China are part of the Industrial Utility Costs dataset, included on Advanced and Ultimate plans. Steam sits alongside 9 other industrial utilities — carbon monoxide, chilled water, compressed air, cooling water, demineralized water, hydrogen, nitrogen gas, oxygen and process water — each tracked on the same monthly basis.

Every month, on the 3rd business day, for Advanced and Ultimate subscribers. Each release covers the most recent period available at the time of publication.

As a monthly PDF report, with download and print enabled on Advanced and Ultimate plans. The same data is available through the Excel Add-In, Power BI connector, and REST Web API for direct integration into spreadsheets, dashboards, or models.

About Steam

Steam is a versatile utility widely used in process industries for heating, power generation, and driving mechanical equipment. It serves as a key energy source, transferring heat to various processes and driving turbines and compressors.