Global steel production recorded a dip of 6.5 per cent at 147.3 million tonnes (mt) in January 2026 compared with the year-ago period.
According to the World Steel Organisation, top producer China’s output went south by 13.9 per cent to 75.3 mt where as India’s production reached 15.1 mt—an increase of 10.5 per cent.
The US saw its numbers go up by 3.3 per cent to 7.1 mt in the period under consideration. South Korea’ also recorded an increase in its production at 5.6 mt, up 5 per cent. Türkiye’s output soared by 5.8 per cent at 3.4 mt and Germany production boomed 15 per cent at 3.1 mt. Iran produced 2.6 mt of steel, up 15.1 per cent.
Meanwhile, Japan’s numbers went down by 0.5 at 6.8 mt. Russia and Brazil suffered a similar fate with production plummeting into 5.5 mt, down 7.4 per cent and 2.7 mt, down 1.4 per cent, respectively.
Africa output surges
Region wise, Africa’s steel production surged by 5.8 per cent to 2 mt in January 2026 while the output of Asia and Oceania plunged to 107.6 mt, a dip of 8.6 per cent. The EU (27) also saw its figures drop by 2.3 per cent at 10.3 mt.
The output of Europe(Other) increased to 3.7 mt, up 4.4 per cent. The West Asia region’s production went north by 12.6 per cent at 4.8 mt.
North America’s numbers slipped by 0.6 per cent at 9.2 mt while the production of Russia and other CIS + Ukraine saw an increase by 8.6 per cent at 6.5 mt. South America recorded a drop of 1.2 per cent in its output at 3.4 mt.
Published on March 3, 2026
