This paper summarizes numerous econometric studies of the structure of the iron and steel industry in the Soviet Union, which have examined the demand for steel products, technological transformations within the industry, and the demand for raw materials and energy. Since there are relatively few links between this and other industries, within an input—output framework an econometric model of the steel industry can be considered as an industrial submodel that gives a comprehensive description of the structures of production and inputs. The impact of the industry on the economy as a whole is, however, very significant; its demand for energy amounts to 8% of total national energy consumption and its high capital intensity results in a share of between 7% and 10% of gross fixed capital formation.