Global stainless steel production increased from 31.40 million tonnes in January–June 2025 to 32.96 million tonnes in the same period of 2026. When only the second quarter is considered, production rose by 7.6%, from 16.02 million tonnes in April–June 2025 to 17.24 million tonnes in April–June 2026.
Asia’s Production Rises to 28.3 Million Tonnes
Stainless steel melt shop production in Asia increased by 6.1% year-on-year to 28.31 million tonnes in the first half of 2026. The region produced 26.69 million tonnes in the same period of 2025.
Asian production in April–June 2026 increased by 9% year-on-year to 14.87 million tonnes, compared with 13.67 million tonnes in the same period a year earlier.
In China, production increased by 7.1% to 21.07 million tonnes in the first half of the year, up from 19.66 million tonnes in January–June 2025. In the second quarter, Chinese production rose by 9.7%, from 10.23 million tonnes to 11.22 million tonnes.
European Union Production Declines
Stainless steel melt shop production in the European Union decreased by 3.7% year-on-year to 2.91 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.02 million tonnes in the same period of 2025.
In contrast, EU production increased by 0.5% year-on-year to 1.50 million tonnes in April–June 2026, compared with 1.49 million tonnes in the same period last year.
US First-Half Production Rises 3.2%
US stainless steel melt shop production increased by 3.2% to 1.15 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, up from 1.11 million tonnes in the same period of 2025.
In the April–June period, US production increased by 4.1% year-on-year, rising from 559,000 tonnes to 582,000 tonnes.
Production in other countries, including Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, increased by 2.9% to 597,000 tonnes in the first half of 2026. However, production in this group declined by 1% year-on-year to 292,000 tonnes in the second quarter.
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