Global crude steel production declined for the fourth consecutive month in April 2026, primarily due to reduced output in China, the Middle East, and Russia. This downturn occurred despite India strengthening its status as the second-largest steel producer globally through sustained output growth.
According to data released by the World Steel Association, total world crude steel production from 69 countries reached 153.4 million tonnes (mt) in April 2026, representing a decrease of 1.9 percent compared to the previous year.
China, the leading global producer, reported production of 83.6 mt of crude steel for the month, a 2.8 percent decline from April 2025. Its output during the January-April period fell by 4.1 percent to 331.1 mt, a trend attributed to ongoing weakness in the property and construction sectors.
In contrast, India produced 13.8 mt of crude steel in April, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.9 percent. For the first four months of 2026, India’s output rose by 9.4 percent to 58.7 mt, allowing it to continue outperforming global trends with robust infrastructure spending and strong manufacturing activity.
The United States experienced one of the highest production increases among major producers, with a 9.4 percent rise to 7.2 mt. Germany and Türkiye also recorded notable growth, with increases of 9.5 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively.
Regionally, Asia and Oceania, which represent the majority of global steelmaking, saw a production decline of 1.3 percent to 114.2 mt. The most significant contraction was observed in the Middle East, where output plummeted by 27.6 percent to 3.7 mt, influenced by geopolitical disruptions and weaker demand conditions.
Production in Russia and other CIS countries, including Ukraine, decreased by 13.4 percent year-on-year to 6 mt in April, while North America defied the global trend with a 6.9 percent increase to 9.4 mt.
For the January-April period, global crude steel production was down 2 percent year-on-year, totaling 613.3 mt. This decline reflects ongoing challenges faced by the industry due to uneven demand recovery and geopolitical uncertainties.
Published on May 24, 2026.
