According to the latest data released by the World Steel Association, the global crude steel production in January 2025 showed diverse trends across different regions.
In January 2025, Africa produced 1.9 million tons of crude steel, a 3.5% decline compared to January 2024. Asia and Oceania, a major production hub, saw their output drop to 112.3 million tons, a 4.5% decrease. The European Union (27 countries) produced 10.3 million tons, down 3.3%, while other parts of Europe had 3.5 million tons, a 6.8% fall. The Middle East witnessed a significant 15.3% drop, with production reaching 4.2 million tons. North America's production was 9.0 million tons, down 0.5%.
However, not all regions experienced a decline. Russia and other CIS + Ukraine managed to increase production by 1.4% to 7.0 million tons. South America, on the other hand, faced a 9.8% decrease, producing 3.2 million tons.
Among individual countries, China, the world's largest steel producer, is estimated to have produced 81.9 million tons in January 2025, a 5.6% decline. India, in contrast, saw a 6.8% growth, with an output of 13.6 million tons. Japan's production decreased by 6.6% to 6.8 million tons, while the United States had a 1.2% increase, reaching 6.6 million tons. Russia's production was estimated at 6.0 million tons, a 0.6% drop. South Korea, Turkey, Germany, Brazil, and Iran also faced production declines, with Iran experiencing the sharpest drop of 24.1% to 2.2 million tons. It has also had a relatively great impact on the downstream production of steel products in China, especially on the production of steel pipes and steel coils.
These production changes are influenced by various factors, including market demand, trade policies, and raw material prices. As the global economy continues to evolve, the steel industry will closely monitor these trends to adapt to the changing market conditions.