Global raw steel production totaled 1.804 billion metric tons, 35.6 million metric tons or about -2.0% less than the 2024 output total for the 70 nations reporting to the World Steel Assn. It was the fourth consecutive year of falling output for raw steel, a trend paced by slowing demand from manufacturing and construction activity worldwide.
The 2025 total for output in line with World Steel’s October forecast for global steel consumption, which pegged worldwide demand at 1.75 billion metric tons. The group also forecast a slight increase in consumption for 2026.
The falling tonnage was evident over the course of 2025, with the December monthly output dropping slightly (-0.4%) from November to 139.6 million metric tons, but down -4.6% from December 2024.
Declining output in major steelmaking nations also reflected larger global trends, with decreasing tonnage from China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. Alternately, the imposition of U.S. tariffs on steel imports starting in April helped American steelmakers steadily increase production volumes through December.
The results from China are particularly notable as that country is the world’s largest producer, typically accounting for more than half of the total global output. With its 12-month production totaling 960.8 million metric tons, Chinese producers missed the 1 billion tons/year mark for the first time in six years - and yet managed to produce roughly 53.0% of all raw steel produced worldwide last year. It was a -4.0% decrease in tonnage from 2024.
The Indian steel industry continued to increase its output, with 164.9 million metric tons produced in 2025, 10.3% more than the previous year.
U.S. steelmakers produced 82.0 million metric tons (90.4 million short tons) during 2025, advancing them from fourth to third on the World Steel Assn. list of largest steelmaking nations. It was a 3.2% increase from January-December 2024.
Japan’s steelmakers produced 80.7 million metric tons of raw steel during 2025, -3.9% below their total for 2024.
The Russian steel industry had an estimated output of 67.8 million metric tons last year, -5.0% off the 2024 tonnage.
South Korean steelmakers produced 61.9 million metric tons during 2025, -3.7% less than the previous 12-month total.
The Turkish steel industry had an annual production total of 38.1 million metric tons during 2025, a 2.0% improvement over 2024.
German steelmakers produced 34.1 million metric tons, -9.3% less than in 2025.
Across the European Union (27 nations) raw-steel output decreased -2.6% from 2024 to 126.2 million metric tons.
World Steel Assn. reports on production of carbon steel in 70 nations, steel produced in basic-oxygen or electric arc furnaces and cast into semi-finished forms like billets for bar and rod products; slabs for flat products; or blooms, for beam and pipe products. Specialty and stainless steel volumes are not included.
About the Author
Robert Brooks
Content Director
Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries.