25 January 2019 Brussels, Belgium
Global crude steel production reached 1,808.6 million tonnes (Mt) for the year 2018, up by 4.6% compared to 2017. Crude steel production increased in all regions in 2018 except in the EU, which saw a 0.3% contraction.
Asia produced 1,271.1 Mt of crude steel in 2018, an increase of 5.6% compared to 2017. China’s crude steel production in 2018 reached 928.3 Mt, up by 6.6% on 2017. China’s share of global crude steel production increased from 50.3% in 2017 to 51.3% in 2018. India’s crude steel production for 2018 was 106.5 Mt, up by 4.9% on 2017, meaning India has replaced Japan as the world’s second largest steel producing country. Japan produced 104.3 Mt in 2018, down 0.3% compared to 2017. South Korea produced 72.5 Mt of crude steel in 2018, an increase of 2.0% compared to 2017.
The EU produced 168.1 Mt of crude steel in 2018, a decrease of 0.3% compared to 2017. Germany* produced 42.4 Mt of crude steel in 2018, a decrease of 2.0% on 2017. Italy produced 24.5 Mt in 2018, up by 1.7% on 2017. France produced 15.4 Mt of crude steel, a decrease of 0.7% on 2017. Spain produced 14.3 Mt of crude steel in 2018, a decrease of 0.1% on 2017.
Crude steel production in North America was 120.5 Mt in 2018, 4.1% higher than in 2017. The US produced 86.7 Mt of crude steel, up by 6.2% on 2017.
The CIS produced 101.3 Mt, an increase of 0.3%. Russia* produced 71.7 Mt of crude steel in 2018, up by 0.3% on 2017. Ukraine produced 21.1 Mt of crude steel in 2018, a decrease of -1.1% compared to 2017.
Annual crude steel production for South America was 44.3 Mt in 2018, an increase of 1.3% on 2017. Brazil produced 34.7 Mt in 2018, up by 1.1% compared to 2017.
The Middle East produced 38.5 Mt of crude steel in 2018, an increase of 11.7% on 2017. Iran* produced 25.0 Mt in 2018, up 17.7% on 2017.
Turkey’s crude steel production for 2018 was 37.3 Mt, down by 0.6% on 2017.
| Top 10 steel-producing countries | ||||
| Rank | Country | 2018 (Mt) | 2017 (Mt) | %2018/2017 |
| 1 | China | 928.3 | 870.9 | 6.6 |
| 2 | India | 106.5 | 101.5 | 4.9 |
| 3 | Japan | 104.3 | 104.7 | -0.3 |
| 4 | United States | 86.7 | 81.6 | 6.2 |
| 5 | South Korea | 72.5 | 71.0 | 2.0 |
| 6 | Russia (e) | 71.7 | 71.5 | 0.3 |
| 7 | Germany (e) | 42.4 | 43.3 | -2.0 |
| 8 | Turkey | 37.3 | 37.5 | -0.6 |
| 9 | Brazil | 34.7 | 34.4 | 1.1 |
| 10 | Iran (e) | 25.0 | 21.2 | 17.7 |
- The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. worldsteel members represent approximately 85% of the world’s steel production, including over 160 steel producers with 9 of the 10 largest steel companies, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes.
- The 2018 figures in this press release are preliminary and are subject to change.
- Production figures for some countries, including Germany, Russia and Iran, are worldsteel estimates.
- For antitrust reasons worldsteel no longer produces a global capacity utilisation ratio. Information on capacity can be found on the OECD website.
- In a recent update CISA has increased its 2017 crude steel production figure from 831.7 Mt to 870.9 Mt.
- Crude steel production figures for the 64 countries reporting to worldsteel on a monthly basis can be accessed here. The total is for these 64 countries only.