Worldsteel: Global crude steel production falls 1.2% in August

Global crude steel production fell by 1.2% year-on-year to 144.2 million tonnes (Mt) in August 2026, as lower output in China outweighed growth in India, the United States and several other major producing countries, according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel).

Production across the 70 countries reporting to worldsteel totalled 1,225.2 Mt in the first eight months of 2026, down 0.7% compared with the same period last year. These countries accounted for approximately 98% of global crude steel production in 2025.

China remained by far the world's largest producer, but its August output declined by 3.7% year-on-year to 74.6 Mt. Chinese production in January-August was 651.9 Mt, 3.1% below the corresponding 2025 level.

India continued to expand production, with August output rising by 4.6% to 14.8 Mt. Production during the first eight months increased by 6.0% to 115.9 Mt.

US crude steel production was estimated at 7.3 Mt in August, up 3.0% year-on-year, while January-August production increased by 5.5% to 57.5 Mt.

Among the other major producers, Japan recorded a marginal 0.4% increase to 6.7 Mt in August, while South Korean production rose by 2.6% to 5.4 Mt. Russian output was estimated at 5.5 Mt, down 0.3%, while Türkiye produced 3.4 Mt, 0.4% less than a year earlier.

German crude steel production increased by 1.7% year-on-year to 2.6 Mt in August. At 23.9 Mt, German output for January-August was 6.3% higher than in the corresponding period of 2025.

Vietnam recorded the strongest growth among the ten largest producing countries. Its August output jumped by 36.4% to 2.7 Mt, while production over the first eight months increased by 29.1% to 20.6 Mt. Brazil, by contrast, produced 2.7 Mt in August, down 6.2%.

At regional level, Asia and Oceania produced 106.7 Mt in August, a year-on-year decline of 1.4%. EU crude steel production decreased by 1.0% to 8.9 Mt, while North American output increased by 3.9% to 9.4 Mt.

Africa recorded an 8.8% increase to 2.1 Mt. Production declined by 4.6% in the Middle East, 5.6% in Russia and other CIS countries plus Ukraine, and 4.9% in South America.

Source and Graphic: Worldsteel