China’s crude steel production hits lowest level in August

In August 2025, China produced 77.37 million tons of crude steel, marking the lowest monthly output since December 2024. The country’s total production for the first eight months of the year reached 671.81 million tons, down approximately 2.8% compared to the same period last year.

The decline was driven by clean air restrictions at northern facilities, weak demand in the construction sector, and production cuts by some manufacturers due to negative profit margins.

Meanwhile, China’s iron ore imports in August totaled 105.23 million tons, up 3.7% month-on-month. Analysts note that despite weak domestic demand, stockpiling and a shift toward export markets continue.

Experts expect that with a potential demand rebound after September, some facilities may resume higher production levels.