Crude steel production in the Middle East rose 1.1pct year on year to 36.1 mln tons in the first eight months of 2025, according to the World Steel Association. August output in the region surged 21.5pct YoY to 3.8 mln tons. The figures cover Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen.
In Africa, crude steel production grew 3pct YoY to 15.2 mln tons in January-August, though August output dipped 3.8pct YoY to 1.8 mln tons. Data includes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa.
Turkey, the world’s seventh-largest producer, recorded stable output at 24.9 mln tons, up just 0.2pct YoY in the first eight months. In August, however, production climbed nearly 8pct to 3.4 mln tons.
Iran, ranked tenth globally, saw output fall 3.6pct YoY to 19.8 mln tons in January-August, though August production rebounded strongly, up nearly 18pct to 1.6 mln tons.
Globally, crude steel production declined 1.7pct YoY to 1.23 bln tons in the first eight months of 2025, though August output edged up 0.3pct YoY to 145.3 mln tons.
China, the world’s largest producer, posted a 2.8pct drop to 671.8 mln tons in January-August, with August output down 0.7pct to 77.4 mln tons.
India maintained strong growth, producing 108.9 mln tons in January-July, up 10.2pct YoY, while August output jumped 13.2pct to 14.1 mln tons.
The United States overtook Japan to become the world’s third-largest steel producer, with output rising 1.6pct YoY to 54.6 mln tons in January-August. August production was up 3.2pct YoY to 7.2 mln tons.
Japan’s output declined 4.5pct YoY to 54.1 mln tons in the first eight months, with August production falling 3.4pct to 6.6 mln tons.
