Global Steel Production Dips 3.8% in May - What It Means for the Industry
The Big Picture
The latest World Steel Association figures reveal some surprising shifts in global steel production that could impact stainless steel markets worldwide. Here’s what you need to know about the May 2025 numbers.
Global crude steel output reached 158.8 million metric tons in May 2025 across 70 reporting countries – representing 98% of worldwide production. While this might sound impressive, it actually marks a 3.8% decline compared to May 2024.
Regional Breakdown: Winners and Losers
The production changes varied dramatically by region:
Growing Markets:
Africa (+5.5% to 1.9 million tons)
Middle East (+5.3% to 5.4 million tons)
North America (+3.4% to 9.5 million tons)
South America (+4.2% to 3.4 million tons)
Declining Markets:
Asia/Oceania (-4.7% to 116.6 million tons)
EU (-3.1% to 11.4 million tons)
Other Europe (-8.8% to 3.6 million tons)
Russia/CIS/Ukraine (-8.1% to 7 million tons)
Top 10 Steel Producing Nations
The production leaderboard shows some dramatic shifts:
China: 86.55 million tons (-6.9%)
India: 13.5 million tons (+9.7%)
Japan: 6.8 million tons (-4.7%)
USA: 7 million tons (+1.7%)
Russia: 5.8 million tons (-6.9%)
South Korea: 5.1 million tons (-1.7%)
Iran: 3.4 million tons (+4.5%)
Turkey: 3.1 million tons (-2.8%)
Germany: 3 million tons (-6.4%)
Brazil: 2.7 million tons (+5%)
Tabs:stainless steel market，steel industry trends
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