GQOTM: BOF vs. EAF Steelmaking

Here is the latest installment of the Glenn's Question of the Moment, which is based on text messages from Glenn to me (Woody). Keep in mind that these usually take place via text message, so they are generally short and loosely worded. Any additional information is added below for the purpose of adding context or further explaination.

Glenn: is the majority of the steel still melted in a BOF (Basic Oxygen Furnace)?

Woody: There are two basic processes used to make todays' steel, the BOF and the EAF. Right now the BOF is still in a slim majority by melting about 58% of today's steel. The EAF continues to grow in market share. Here's a description of the two basic processes:

The basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process uses 25 to 35 percent old steel to make new. It produces products— such as automotive fenders, encasements of refrigerators, and packaging like soup cans, five-gallon pails, and 55-gallon drums—whose major required characteristic is drawability.

The electric arc furnace (EAF) process uses more than 80 percent old steel to make new. It produces products— such as structural beams, steel plates, and reinforcement bars—whose major required characteristic is strength.