ABSTRACT
This chapter describes what extent Mexican environmental legislation and its enforcement have tended to mitigate the environmental damage associated with the industrial development of the steel industry. It analyses the technological options of that industry and their possible environmental impact. The chapter also describes economic trends in the Mexican steel industry. Assessment at the microeconomic level is based on a survey which collected data on the plants through direct interviews, using a questionnaire. The steel industry is one of the most polluting manufacturing activities in relation to output. World Bank estimates of pollution intensity for 80 International Standard Industrial Classification four-digit industries, based on United States data, puts the iron and steel industry in the top ten for most of the pollutants listed. The chapter focuses on some of the specific characteristics of the Mexican steel industry, which have environmental implications.
