The World Steel Association (WorldSteel) has announced a 3.4% decline [1] in global crude steel production for February 2025, bringing the total output to 144.7 million tonnes. This drop marks a challenging period for the steel industry amid rising costs and weaker demand.
China, the leading steel producer, recorded a 3.3% decline, producing 78.9 million tonnes. Meanwhile, Japan and the European Union saw sharper contractions, with Japan’s output down by 8.5% to 6.4 million tonnes and the EU producing 10.1 million tonnes, a 7.1% drop. The United States also experienced a 7% decline, contributing 6.0 million tonnes to the global figure.
In contrast, India bucked the trend with a 6.3% increase, reaching 12.7 million tonnes. Africa also saw growth, recording a 7.6% rise in output to 1.9 million tonnes. However, the Middle East reported a steep 11.5% decline, totaling 3.7 million tonnes.
The report highlights ongoing challenges for the sector, including fluctuating demand and rising energy costs, with analysts suggesting that recovery may be slow amid these headwinds.
Sources:
[1] Global steel output fell 3.4 % yr/yr in February, says WorldSteel https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/worldcrudesteeloutput-down-34-percent-in-february-1384754.htm