Global crude steel production experienced a decline in March 2026, primarily due to significant reductions in major producing regions, although India and a few other countries reported notable growth.
The World Steel Association reported that output across 69 countries, which represent approximately 98 percent of global production, fell by 4.2 percent year-on-year to 159.9 million tonnes (mt).
China-led Decline
The downturn was chiefly attributed to China, the largest steel producer globally, where production dropped by 6.3 percent to 87 mt in March. For the January to March period, China’s output decreased by 4.6 percent to 247.6 mt. The sustained weakness in China, driven by ongoing demand concerns, negatively impacted global steelmaking, overshadowing the gains made in other regions.
India and the U.S. Among Bright Spots
In contrast, India continued to demonstrate robust growth, recording a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase in production to 15.3 mt in March and a 10.8 percent rise for the first quarter, solidifying its status as the fastest-growing major steel producer. The United States also saw steady growth, with output increasing by 5.2 percent to 7.2 mt in March. Germany and Türkiye experienced production increases of 7.5 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.
Mixed Regional Trends
Regional production trends were inconsistent. Asia and Oceania, which account for the majority of global output, reported a 3.9 percent decline to 119.3 mt, while the European Union saw a 4.6 percent drop to 11.4 mt. The Middle East registered the sharpest decline, with output plummeting by 33.5 percent. Russia, other CIS countries, and Ukraine also reflected a decline of 7.9 percent. On a positive note, Africa and North America recorded growth rates of 11.6 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, while production in “Europe, Other” rose by 4.9 percent.
Quarterly Output
For the first quarter of 2026 (January to March), global crude steel production totaled 459.2 mt, a decrease of 2.3 percent compared to a year earlier, highlighting continued softness in demand and supply adjustments in major markets.
Published on April 24, 2026.
