Global steel output edges down in April

Spanish Market: Metals
22/05/25

Global crude steel production slipped slightly in April to 155.7mn t, down marginally from the same month last year. The decline was underpinned by a drop in Japanese output, but Chinese production held steady at 86mn t.

China accounted for 55pc of the total output among the 69 reporting countries, which together represent 98pc of global steel production. Chinese crude steel output reached 345.4mn t in the first four months of this year, broadly unchanged from the same period in 2024.

India posted a 5.6pc increase on the year in April to 13mn t, supported by strong demand from the automotive sector, which makes up 8–10pc of the country's steel use. Passenger vehicle sales in India rose by 4pc in April to 348,847 units.

Germany recorded the sharpest drop among major producers, with output having fallen by 10pc on the year in April and by 12pc in the January-April period to 3mn t and 11.4mn t, respectively. The decline was linked to low order intake in February for April delivery, as buyers held off owing to political uncertainty ahead of the chancellor election. The EU registered a 2.6pc decline in April output to 11.1mn t, driven largely by the German slowdown.

Japan's crude steel production in April fell by 6.4pc on the year to 6.6mn t, as one of its basic oxygen furnaces was idled as a result of low demand.

By Elif Eyuboglu

Leading producers' global crude steel production				mn t
Producer	Apr-25	±% Apr24	Jan-Apr-25	±% Jan-Apr24

China	86.0	0.0	345.4	0.4
India	12.9	5.6	53.2	6.9
Japan	6.6	-6.4	27.0	-5.3
US	6.6	-0.3	26.4	0.0
Russia*	5.8	-5.1	23.4	-4.5
South Korea	5.0	-2.5	20.5	-3.4
Turkey	3.0	7.0	12.3	-1.0
Germany	3.0	-10.1	11.4	-11.9
Brazil	2.6	-3.1	11.0	-0.3
Iran	3	5	11	-8
*based on estimate data
— World Steel Association

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Australia offers support to Rio Tinto’s Tomago Al plant

12/12/25

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EU may crank up coal and steel research funds in 2027

11/12/25

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ArcelorMittal to raise ferro-alloys surcharge on coil

11/12/25

ArcelorMittal to raise ferro-alloys surcharge on coil

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Global steel output edges down in April

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