Posted on 27 Jan 2026
Global crude steel production among the 70 countries surveyed by the World Steel Association (WSA) retreated by 2% on year during 2025 to sit at 1.8 billion tonnes, according to the WSA's latest release published on January 23.
For the last month of last year meanwhile, crude steel output worldwide in December totaled 139.6 million tonnes, declining by 3.7% from December 2024 and by 0.4% from November's 140.1 million tonnes, according to the same release.
China, the world's largest steelmaker, produced 68.2 million tonnes of crude steel in December, down by a significant 10.3% on year. Its output in December also edged down by 2.4% on month from November, declining for the ninth consecutive month and marking the lowest monthly output last year, Mysteel Global calculated based on the WSA statistics.
Meanwhile, China's crude steel output total for 2025 registered 960.8 million tonnes, posting a 4.4% on-year decline, the WSA data indicated. The tonnage accounted for 53.2% of the world's total.
Among the top ten steelmaking countries, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany and Brazil also recorded on-year slides in their crude steel output in December and during 2025 overall, the WSA survey result showed. Indeed, Japan's business daily, The Nikkei, lamented last week that 2025 marked the first time since 1999 that Japan's production had been surpassed by that of the United States.
Indeed, the U.S posted further on-year gains in 2025, with its tonnage in December mounting by 3.6% on year to reach 6.9 million tonnes, and its total output last year edging up by 3.1% to 82 million tonnes, according to the WSA release.
More significantly India, the world's second-largest steelmaking country, continued to post higher crude steel production last year, with its December output rising 10.1% on year to 14.8 million tonnes which lifted the country's full-year total 10.4% higher than during 2024 at 164.9 million tonnes, the WSA release indicated.
Crude steel output of the world's top 10 steelmaking countries | ||||
Country | Dec 2025 | Jan-Dec 2025 | ||
(mln t) | Y-o-Y (%) | (mln t) | Y-o-Y (%) | |
China | 68.2 | -10.3 | 960.8 | -4.4 |
India | 14.8 | 10.1 | 164.9 | 10.4 |
U.S. | 6.9 | 3.6 | 82 | 3.1 |
Japan | 6.6 | -4.8 | 80.7 | -4 |
Russia (e) | 5.8 | -4.4 | 67.8 | -4.5 |
South Korea | 5.2 | -2.4 | 61.9 | -2.8 |
Türkiye | 3.5 | 18.5 | 38.1 | 3.3 |
Germany | 2.7 | -0.2 | 34.1 | -8.6 |
Brazil | 2.6 | -1.9 | 33.3 | -1.6 |
Iran | 3 | 16.2 | 31.8 | 1.4 |
Total 70 | 139.6 | -3.7 | 1,803.80 | -2 |
(e): estimated, source: WSA | ||||
Source:Mysteel Global
