Why do carbon steels account for most steel production?

Carbon steels account for approximately 90 percent of global steel production primarily due to their versatility and cost-effectiveness in meeting a wide range of industrial and structural needs.12

While pure iron is generally too soft for engineering applications, the addition of carbon serves as the fundamental method for strengthening the material. Carbon steels provide an unparalleled range of mechanical properties—from the ductility required for deep-drawn automobile bodies to the hardness needed for railroad rails—without the necessity of adding expensive alloying elements.32

Furthermore, the production of carbon steel benefits from the global abundance of its primary raw materials, iron ore and scrap, making it significantly more economical to manufacture, form, and process than high-alloy alternatives. Manufacturers only turn to costly alloying elements when specific performance requirements cannot be satisfied by the broad capabilities of carbon steel.42