According to data released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel), the 70 countries reporting to the association produced a total of 157.9 million metric tons (Mt) of crude steel in May 2026. This represented a 0.3% decline compared to the same month in 2025.
Following the contraction recorded in April, the downward trend in global steel production continued in May, albeit at a limited pace. During the January–May period, global crude steel output totaled 773.1 million tons, down 1.5% year-on-year.
On a regional basis, Africa’s crude steel production reached 2.1 million tons in May, marking a 10.3% increase compared to the same month last year. Output in the region rose by 8.2% to 10.5 million tons during the first five months of the year. In Asia and Oceania, production amounted to 116.2 million tons, down 0.9% year-on-year, while January–May output declined by 1.5% to 574.4 million tons.
Crude steel production in the European Union (27) totaled 11.4 million tons, down 0.4% compared to May 2025. The EU's output for the January–May period fell by 1.5% to 54.4 million tons. In the rest of Europe, including Türkiye, production increased by 4.9% to 3.8 million tons in May, while five-month output rose by 4.6% to 18.4 million tons.
In the Middle East, crude steel production stood at 3.9 million tons in May, reflecting a sharp decline of 19.4%. Regional output for the first five months of the year decreased by 14.6% to 19.9 million tons. North America recorded a 15.6% increase to 10.1 million tons in May, while January–May production rose by 5.9% to 47.0 million tons. In the region comprising Russia, other CIS countries, and Ukraine, production declined by 4.8% to 6.7 million tons, while five-month output fell by 9.6% to 31.6 million tons. South America produced 3.5 million tons in May, up 3.7% year-on-year, although output for the January–May period edged down 0.7% to 17.0 million tons.
Among individual countries, China produced 84.4 million tons of crude steel in May, down 2.7% from the previous year. India increased production by 1.9% to 14.1 million tons. Production in the United States rose by 9.2% to 7.5 million tons, while Japan recorded a 1.7% increase to 7.0 million tons.
South Korea's output increased by 3.3% to 5.4 million tons. Russia’s crude steel production was estimated at 5.6 million tons, down 5.4% year-on-year. Türkiye posted an 8.9% increase to 3.4 million tons, while Germany's production rose by 7.3% to 3.2 million tons. Brazil produced 2.8 million tons, up 2.4%, and Vietnam recorded the strongest growth among major producers, with output surging 27.2% to 2.6 million tons in May.
.jpeg)
Comments
No comment yet.