Crude steel production in the Middle East fell 8pct YoY to 13.3 mln tons in the first quarter of 2025, according to the World Steel Association. However, March showed signs of recovery, with output rising nearly 2pct YoY to 5.3 mln tons. The region includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen.
In Africa, crude steel production edged up 1.4pct YoY to 5.7 mln tons during January-March 2025. March output also saw a slight rise of 0.6pct YoY, reaching 1.9 mln tons. The data covers Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa.
Turkey, the world’s seventh-largest steel producer, reported a 3.4pct YoY decline in Q1 2025 output, totaling 9.3 mln tons. March production dipped 2.8pct YoY to 3.1 mln tons.
Iran, ranked tenth globally, saw a sharper decline of 12.8pct YoY in the quarter, producing 7.3 mln tons. However, March output rebounded with a 3.7pct YoY increase to 3.3 mln tons.
Worldwide crude steel production slipped 0.4pct YoY to 468.6 mln tons in the first quarter. March output, however, rose 2.9pct YoY to 166.1 mln tons.
China, the world’s top steel producer, recorded a 0.6pct YoY increase in Q1 output to 259.3 mln tons. March production was up 4.6pct YoY at 92.8 mln tons.
India continued strong growth, with production rising 6.8pct YoY to 40.1 mln tons in Q1 and 7pct YoY to 13.8 mln tons in March.
Japan, by contrast, saw a 5pct YoY decline in Q1 output to 20.4 mln tons, though March production edged up 0.2pct YoY to 7.2 mln tons.