Global Steel Production Drops 0.3% in August 2025

Global Steel Production Sees Minor Decline in August

Global steel production totaled 145.3 million tons in August 2025, falling 0.3% year-on-year and 3.2% month-on-month, according to the World Steel Association. This marks a continued softening in global output amid economic uncertainty, energy transitions, and regional disruptions.

China, the world’s top steel producer, recorded 77.4 million tons, down 0.7% year-on-year. Germany saw a sharper decline at 10.5%, reflecting broader European industrial weakness. On the other hand, India posted strong growth of 13.2%, reaching 14.1 million tons, driven by expanding infrastructure demand.

CIS countries and Ukraine produced 6.7 million tons, showing a 4.9% year-on-year drop. However, Ukraine’s monthly production rose 11.9% to 649.4 thousand tons, signaling partial recovery in domestic operations.

Year-to-Date Steel Output Down 1.7% Globally

From January to August 2025, global steel production reached 1.231 billion tons, down 1.7% compared to the same period in 2024. The CIS+Ukraine region accounted for 55.1 million tons, marking a 5.1% year-on-year decline. Ukraine’s output in the first eight months stood at 4.91 million tons, down 6.8%.

Looking back, 2024 saw a 0.9% annual drop in global output to 1.839 billion tons. December 2024 alone registered 144.5 million tons, a 5.6% increase year-on-year but still lower month-on-month.

Other key producers in August 2025 included:

• USA: 7.2 million tons (+3.2% y/y)
• Japan: 6.6 million tons (-3.4% y/y)
• South Korea: 5.2 million tons (-6.1% y/y)
• Turkey: 3.4 million tons (+7.9% y/y)
• Brazil: 2.9 million tons (-4.6% y/y)
• Iran: 1.6 million tons (+17.9% y/y)

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

While global steel production declined only slightly in August, the regional shifts are telling. India and Iran continue to expand output aggressively, capturing market share amid China’s plateau. Meanwhile, Europe struggles with rising energy costs and slowing demand. If this trend continues, we may see more reshuffling among the top producers. Watch closely for Q4 data—it could signal a structural shift in global steel dynamics heading into 2026.