A process for producing electromagnetic silicon steel having a cube-on-edge orientation. The process includes the steps of: preparing a melt of silicon steel having up to 0.07% carbon, from 0.01 to 0.25% manganese, from 0.01 to 0.09% of material from the group consisting of sulfur and selenium, from 2.5 to 4.0% silicon, up to 1.0% copper, less than 0.009% aluminum and less than 0.0006% boron; casting the steel; hot rolling the steel; cold rolling the steel; normalizing the steel in a hydrogen-bearing atmosphere having a pH.sub.2 O/pH.sub.2 of from 0.015 to 0.3; applying a refractory oxide coating containing an oxide less stable than SiO.sub.2 at temperatures up to 2150.degree. F.; and final texture annealing the steel.