Steel in Anno 1800 is one of the most important mid game materials in the Old World. Once you reach 300 Workers, it becomes a backbone resource for construction, military expansion, and early industrialisation. As your city continues to grow, steel demand rises quickly, and because it’s region locked, managing your supply efficiently becomes essential. For this reason, a well‑planned Steel chain has a major impact on how smoothly your settlement develops. Ultimately, investing early in a stable steel setup sets the foundation for long term progress.
What is produced
As you progress through the game, Steel becomes increasingly important because most late game buildings rely on it. To produce it, you’ll need a chain built around three main buildings. However, this chain can expand to four buildings depending on how you choose to generate coal.
For instance, you can supply coal with either a Coal Mine or a Charcoal Kiln. But if you choose Charcoal Kilns, you’ll need two of them to match the output of a single Coal Mine. Once everything is fully supplied, the chain produces one ton of steel beams every 30 seconds, giving you a steady rate of two tons per minute.
Steel in Anno 1800 is mainly used for shipbuilding early on. Later in the game, it also becomes essential for manufacturing Weapons, Sewing machines, Concrete, and Oil infrastructure. Additionally, Steel are useful during expeditions, since loading them as supplies gives your crew a morale boost.
Buildings in this chain
Producing Steel in Anno 1800 links several early game industrial buildings into a single, efficient chain. Each building plays a specific role, and keeping them balanced is key to avoiding bottlenecks. Steel is needed for a wide range of buildings and resources, however, the overall cost of the production chain will vary depending on whether you choose to supply coal with a Coal Mine or a Charcoal Kiln. Because of this difference, it’s important to consider your fuel source early, as it directly affects both your expenses and your layout. With that in mind, let’s start by looking at the costs for a production chain that uses a Charcoal Kiln.
Steel production using Charcoal kiln
This setup shows the Steel production chain when using a Charcoal Kiln. However, the main drawback of this method is that you’ll need two Charcoal Kilns to match the output of a single Coal Mine. As a result, the entire chain becomes slightly more expensive and takes up more space. In comparison, the Coal Mine option is more efficient, both in cost and layout, which makes it the better long‑term choice for most islands.
| Building | No. needed | Cost per building | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron mine | 1 | $800 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 workers. | $800 credits, 5 timber, 4 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 workers. |
| Charcoal Kiln | 2 | $500 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -20 maintenance, 10 workers, -5 attractiveness | $1000 credits, 8 timber, 10 bricks, -20 maintenance, 20 workers, -10 attractiveness |
| Furnace | 2 | $500 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -100 maintenance, 100 workers, -5 attractiveness | $2000 credits, 8 timber, 10 bricks, -200 maintenance, 200 workers, -10 attractiveness |
| Total | $3800 credits, 21 timber, 24 bricks, –270 Maintenance, 270 workers, -20 attractiveness |
Steel production using Coal mine
This time, we’ll be using a Coal Mine so you can easily compare the difference. In general, a Coal Mine is more efficient than relying on Charcoal Kilns because it produces more coal with fewer buildings. However, the main drawback is distance, the Coal Mine may be far from your production buildings. Because of this, the coal has to be transported, which can slow things down. To keep the chain running smoothly, placing a Warehouse nearby helps maintain a steady flow of materials.
| Building | No. needed | Cost per building | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Mine | 1 | $800 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 workers. | $800 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 workers. |
| Coal Mine | 1 | $600 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 workers | $600 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 workers |
| Furnace | 2 | $500 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -100 maintenance, 100 workers, -5 attractiveness | $1,000 credits, 8 timber, 10 bricks, -200 maintenance, 200 workers, -10 attractiveness |
| Total | $2,400 credits, 16 timber, 20 bricks, -300 maintenance, 300 workers, -10 attractiveness |
Iron mine
You can only build an Iron Mine on islands that actually contain iron deposits. To check this, start by looking at the resource bar, which lists all materials available on that island. If you prefer a more hands‑on approach, you can also explore the island directly and hover over each mining site to see what resource it provides. Additionally, iron deposits are always found near mountains, so those areas are the best places to check first.
To build an Iron mine, you will need the following items:
- $800 credits
- 4 timber
- 5 bricks
- Iron deposit on the island
As well as the build costs, you will also need the following ongoing costs:
- 50 workers
- $50 credits per minute for maintenance
Once these conditions are met, the mine will begin producing two iron ore per minute. As a result, you’ll have a steady and reliable supply to keep your production chains running smoothly. In turn, this consistency helps prevent shortages, ensuring that your city can continue growing without interruption.
- Function : mines iron ore.
- Limitation : can only be placed on top of iron ore deposit.
- Unlocks : unlocks at 300 workers.
- Depletion : Iron mines do not deplete over time.
- Region : available in the Old World and Cape Trelawney
Coal mine
You can only build a Coal Mine in specific areas of the map. To find the right spot, start by checking which mining sites are designated for coal. Once you’ve identified a coal deposit, try to place your Coal Mine as close as possible to your Iron Mine, since this setup creates a more efficient production chain. Furthermore, keeping both mines nearby reduces transport time and helps maintain a steady flow of materials. In addition, remember that the Coal Mine only becomes available once you reach 250 Artisans, so it’s important to plan your progression with this milestone in mind. By preparing early, you can transition smoothly into a more efficient steel production setup.
To build the Coal mine, you will need the following:
- $600 credits
- 4 timber
- 5 bricks
- Coal deposit on the island
You will also need the following ongoing costs:
- 50 workers
- $50 credits per minute for maintenance
Once these conditions are met, the mine will continuously produce four tons of coal per minute. As a result, you’ll have a steady and reliable supply to keep your furnace running without interruption. Furthermore, this consistent fuel flow helps maintain smooth production, preventing slowdowns and keeping your steel chain efficient. Ultimately, with dependable coal coming in, the rest of your industry can operate at full speed.
- Function : mines coal.
- Limitation : can only be placed on coal deposits.
- Unlocks : unlocks at 250 Artisans.
- Depletion : Coal mines do not deplete over time.
- Region : available in the Old World and Cape Trelawney
Charcoal kiln
The Charcoal Kiln acts as a replacement for the Coal Mine. If your island doesn’t have any coal deposits, you’ll need to build a Charcoal Kiln instead to keep your production running. As you move into the later game, you may decide to import coal from another island, which frees up valuable space on your main steel producing island for additional buildings. Even so, the Charcoal Kiln remains essential in the early game, since it provides a reliable source of coal before you have access to mines or trade routes.
To build the Charcoal kiln, you will need the following items:
- $500 credits
- 4 timber
- 5 bricks
- 5×5 tile space plus a radius of at least 227 tiles around it (it will plant its own trees if its not placed in a wooded area).
The following ongoing costs will also be needed to keep the charcoal kiln going:
- 10 workers
- $20 credits per minute maintenance
Once the conditions above are met, the kiln will steadily produce 2 tons of charcoal per minute. As a result, you’ll have a dependable early‑game fuel source, ensuring your steel production chain can run without interruptions.
- Function : turns trees in to charcoal.
- Limitation 1 : can be placed anywhere but best placed by trees.
- Limitation 2 : needs a large area for tree planting.
- Unlocks : unlocks at 300 workers.
- Region : available in the Old World, Cape Trelawney and the Arctic
Furnace
The Furnace is the last building in the production chain for Steel in Anno 1800. The Furnace will take the coal and the iron ore and turn these into Steel. Steel in Anno 1800 is an important material, as it is needed to make Steel beams and Weapons, and in later game items such as the Sewing machines.
To build the Furnace, you will need the following items:
- $500 credits
- 4 timber
- 5 bricks
- 4×7 tile space
As well as the above, you will also need the following:
- 100 workers
- $100 credits per minute for maintenance
Once these conditions are met, the Furnace will continuously produce Two tons of Steel per minute. As a result, you’ll have a steady and reliable supply to keep your empire building going without interruption.
- Function : converts iron ore and coal in to steel.
- Placement : can be placed anywhere.
- Unlocks : unlocks at 300 workers.
- Regions : available in Old World, Cape Trelawney and the New World.
Technology tree
The technology tree for Steel in Anno 1800 is slightly more complex than many other production chains. This is mainly because you have two different options for generating fuel: you can either produce coal or create charcoal. As a result, the path you choose early on will shape how your entire Steel chain develops. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the tech tree. It will branch into two different paths depending on which fuel source you choose to use.
This is the technology tree for the Coal mine option.
This is the technology tree for the Charcoal kiln option.
Here you can see the two tech trees, which change depending on whether you choose charcoal or coal. To start, the charcoal path requires two Charcoal Kilns, while the coal path needs only a single Coal Mine. Because of this difference, the two options vary in both cost and space efficiency. Furthermore, your choice will influence how your entire steel chain develops as your city grows. For that reason, it’s important to plan ahead and choose the option that best fits your island layout and overall resource availability. Ultimately, understanding these branches helps you build a smoother and more efficient production setup.
Layout
This is the layout for producing Steel in Anno 1800, and there will be two different versions depending on your fuel source. To begin with, the main challenge is that you can produce Steel using either charcoal or coal, and this choice directly affects how your layout is structured. In the early game, you’ll typically rely on Charcoal Kilns, so the example shown uses that setup. However, once you unlock Coal Mines, switching to coal becomes the more efficient option. As a result, you can streamline your production chain and free up valuable space for additional buildings. Ultimately, choosing the right fuel source at the right time helps your entire steel industry run more smoothly.
Here we can see the layout for the production of Steel in Anno 1800. In this example, the chain uses a single Coal Mine, rather than the two Charcoal Kilns required in the alternative setup. As you review the layout, keep in mind that the Coal Mine may be located far from the main production area and is also not available until you reach Artisan level. Because of this distance, a Warehouse is placed next to the mine, which in turn ensures efficient transport of coal to the rest of the production chain.
Improving productivity
On achieving workers you will find that you can now build a Trade union. Trade unions can be used for numerous things in Anno 1800. They boost productivity, buildings within the unions radius do not need roads to receive the benefit. As a building can only be affected by one Trade union at a time it is essential that you do not overlap in your design stage.
Trade union items for Iron mine
Here are some of the best items for the Iron mine.
| Item name | Effect | Rarity/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammable Concoction | +100% productivity, +50% chance of explosion | Common – destroyed after 2 hours use Expedition bonus – +5 crafting |
| Big box of Dynamite | +200% productivity, +100 chance of explosion | Uncommon – destroyed after 2 hours Expedition bonus – + 5 force, +4 naval power |
| Ventilator | -50% workforce needed | Uncommon Expedition bonus – +20 crafting |
| Safety Elevator | +35% productivity, -25% maintenance costs, +30% chance of explosion | Rare |
| Simmons Electrifying Elevator | +40% productivity, -35% maintenance costs | Epic |
Trade union items for Coal mine
Here are some of the best items for the Coal mine.
| Item name | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamite | 100% productivity +50% chance of explosion | Common – destroyed after 2 hours use Expedition bonus – +2 naval power +3 force |
| Miner | +20% productivity | Common Expedition bonus – +10 crafting |
| Freight Elevator | +25% productivity -15% maintenance costs +50% chance of explosion | Uncommon |
| First-rate Sapper | +50% Productivity -75% workforce needed | Rare Expedition bonus – +30 crafting +10 force |
| Micaela the Mining Engineer | -100% maintenance costs -100% workforce | Epic Expedition bonus – +40 craft +20 force |
| Jorg von Malching, Augur of the Auric | +70% productivity occasionally produces gold or oil | Legendary Expedition bonus – +50 crafting +30 force |
Trade union items for Charcoal kiln
Here are some of the best items to use for the Charcoal kiln.
| Item name | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Burner | +10% productivity | Common Expedition bonus – +10 crafting |
| Industrial Thresher | +20% productivity +10% forest density | Uncommon Expedition bonus – +10 crafting |
| Kiln Keeper | -100% attractiveness | Uncommon Expedition bonus – +20 crafting |
| Druids Sickle | +30% productivity +20% forest density | Rare Expedition bonus – +15 crafting |
| Park Ranger | +30% productivity Occasionally produces Caoutchouc | Rare Expedition bonus – +30 hunting +10 navigation |
| Miss Rodriguez, The Conservation | +40% productivity Occasionally produces cotton | Epic Expedition bonus – +40 crafting +20 hunting |
| Teutonic Technical Secateurs | +40% productivity +30% forest density | Epic Expedition bonus – +20 crafting |
| Ursula Green, Guardian of the Forests | +50% productivity +10% forest density +8 Attractiveness | Legendary Expedition bonus – +45 crafting +35 hunting +25 navigation |
Trade union items for Furnace
Here are some of the best items for the Furnace.
| Item name | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calciner | +40% productivity +50% chance of fire -3 attractiveness | Uncommon |
| Coal Permit | +25% productivity +20% attractiveness | Uncommon |
| Night Pollution By-law | -10% productivity -40% attractiveness | Uncommon |
| Heavy Coal Permit | +40% productivity +40% attractiveness | Rare |
| Bechamel Converter | +60% productivity -1 attractiveness -50% workforce needed | Epic |
| Greens Law to Postpone the Apocalypse | -30% productivity -80% attractiveness | Epic |
Using electricity
Iron mine
The Iron Mine’s production will double once it receives electricity. As soon as you connect the mine to a Power Plant’s radius, its output increases immediately, allowing you to gather iron ore much faster. Consequently, your entire Steel production chain becomes more efficient, giving you a stronger and more reliable supply for the rest of your industry. Ultimately, electrifying your mines is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to support long‑term growth.
Coal mine
The Coal Mine’s production will double when it is supplied with electricity. Once the mine is within a Power Plant’s radius, its output increases immediately, allowing you to generate coal at a much faster rate. As a result, your fuel supply becomes far more reliable, helping your entire steel chain operate more efficiently. Ultimately, electrifying your mines is one of the most effective upgrades for boosting mid‑game industrial output.
Charcoal kiln
The Charcoal kiln’s production will double when it is supplied with electricity. Once the kiln is within a power plant’s radius, its output increases immediately, allowing you to generate charcoal much faster.
Furnace
When a Furnace is supplied with electricity, its productivity receives a significant boost. Once the building is inside a power plant’s radius, its output immediately doubles, allowing it to process iron ore into Steel at twice the normal speed.