Global crude steel output slips slightly in September 2026

According to the World Steel Association (worldsteel), crude steel production across the 70 countries reporting to the association totaled 142.4 million tonnes in September 2026, a 0.2 percent decrease compared with September 2025. Worldsteel noted that these 70 reporting countries accounted for approximately 98 percent of global crude steel production in 2025.

Asia and Oceania remained the largest producing region, with output of 104.0 million tonnes, up 0.7 percent year on year. Africa recorded the strongest regional growth, rising 10.6 percent to 2.2 million tonnes, while North America increased 3.4 percent to 9.3 million tonnes and South America edged up 0.2 percent to 3.5 million tonnes.

Several regions posted declines. The European Union (27) produced 10.1 million tonnes, down 5.0 percent, and the Middle East fell 20.4 percent to 3.6 million tonnes. Russia and other CIS countries plus Ukraine produced 6.1 million tonnes, down 1.9 percent, while Other Europe slipped 1.4 percent to 3.6 million tonnes.

China remained the largest single producer at 73.6 million tonnes, a 0.1 percent increase. India produced 13.9 million tonnes, up 1.9 percent, and the United States was estimated at 7.2 million tonnes, up 4.3 percent. Japan produced 6.3 million tonnes, down 0.6 percent, while Russia was estimated at 5.5 million tonnes, up 6.2 percent.

South Korea produced 5.2 million tonnes, up 3.6 percent, and Türkiye 3.2 million tonnes, up 0.8 percent. Germany recorded the steepest decline among the top ten producers at 2.6 million tonnes, down 13.0 percent. Brazil produced 2.8 million tonnes, down 0.8 percent, and Viet Nam posted the largest percentage gain at 2.6 million tonnes, up 29.1 percent.