Source: World Steel Association (worldsteel.org)
World crude steel production across the 70 countries reporting to the World Steel Association reached 144.2 million tonnes in August 2026, representing a 1.2% decline compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative output for the first eight months of the year stood at 1,225.2 million tonnes, down 0.7% year-on-year.
China remained the world's largest producer at 74.6 million tonnes, but output fell 3.7% from August 2025, continuing the trend of constrained domestic production. India ranked second with 14.8 million tonnes, up 4.6% year-on-year, maintaining its position as the fastest-growing major producer. The United States produced an estimated 7.3 million tonnes, a 3.0% increase, while Japan held steady at 6.7 million tonnes, up 0.4%.
Among other top-ten producers, Russia produced an estimated 5.5 million tonnes, down 0.3%, and South Korea reached 5.4 million tonnes, up 2.6%. Turkey produced 3.4 million tonnes, down 0.4%. Brazil saw a 6.2% decline to 2.7 million tonnes, while Germany rose 1.7% to 2.6 million tonnes. Notably, Vietnam surged 36.4% year-on-year to 2.7 million tonnes, reflecting rapid capacity expansion in Southeast Asia.
At the regional level, Africa recorded the strongest growth at 8.8% to 2.1 million tonnes. North America rose 3.9% to 9.4 million tonnes, and non-EU European countries increased 1.2% to 3.8 million tonnes. In contrast, the Russia and CIS plus Ukraine region fell 5.6% to 6.3 million tonnes, the Middle East dropped 4.6% to 3.7 million tonnes, and South America declined 4.9% to 3.4 million tonnes. Asia and Oceania, the largest producing region, slipped 1.4% to 106.7 million tonnes, while EU output edged down 1.0% to 8.9 million tonnes.
The production figures underscore a global steel market in moderate contraction, with Chinese output restraint offsetting gains in India, the United States, and emerging producers like Vietnam. The data was released by worldsteel on 24 September 2026 from its Brussels headquarters.
