Steel production in the European Union dropped 5.0% to 10.1 Mt
In September 2026, 70 reporting countries produced 142.4 million tonnes of crude steel, reflecting a 0.2% decline compared to September 2025. Across the first nine months of the year, global metal production reached 1,367.5 million tonnes, down 0.7%. This was reported by World Steel Association, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The combined output of the 70 reporting countries represents approximately 98% of total global crude steel production. During the first nine months of the year, worldwide crude steel output reached 1,367.5 million tonnes, indicating a 0.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.
Production dynamics varied significantly across world regions in September. The sharpest downturn occurred in the Middle East, where output dropped 20.4% to 3.6 million tonnes, whereas African nations achieved a 10.6% increase to 2.2 million tonnes.
Output Across World Regions
Steelmakers across Asia and Oceania manufactured 104.0 million tonnes, exceeding the previous year’s figure by 0.7%. In contrast, production across the 27 European Union member states fell 5.0% to 10.1 million tonnes.
Other European countries saw their output drop 1.4% to 3.6 million tonnes. North America completed September with 9.3 million tonnes of steel, posting a 3.4% year-on-year increase.
The region covering Russia, other CIS countries, and Ukraine registered a 1.9% decline to 6.1 million tonnes. South American producers turned out 3.5 million tonnes, edging up by 0.2%.
Top Steel Producing Countries
China retained its position as the leading producer, generating 73.6 million tonnes in September, an increase of 0.1% year-on-year. Over the first nine months of the year, Chinese mills produced 724.8 million tonnes, reflecting a 2.9% contraction.
India secured second place globally with 13.9 million tonnes in September, improving its output by 1.9%. From January through September, the Indian steel industry expanded production by 5.6% to 130.0 million tonnes.
Estimated crude steel output in the United States grew 4.3% to 7.2 million tonnes. Japan manufactured 6.3 million tonnes of unprocessed metal, representing a 0.6% decrease.
Performance of Major Producers
Russia’s estimated output increased 6.2% to 5.5 million tonnes of raw steel. South Korea concluded September at 5.2 million tonnes, up 3.6% compared to the previous year.
Turkish steelmakers produced 3.2 million tonnes, marking a 0.8% rise. Brazil’s production declined 0.8% to 2.8 million tonnes of steel.
Germany experienced a 13.0% drop in production to 2.6 million tonnes. Conversely, Vietnam demonstrated rapid steel sector growth, with domestic mills boosting September output by 29.1% to 2.6 million tonnes.
Illustrative photo: BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives / CC BY 2.0
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