Crude steel production in the Middle East fell by 5.4pct YoY to 27.5 mln tons in the first half of 2025, according to the World Steel Association. Output in June dropped 4.9pct to 4.3 mln tons. The decline was primarily driven by reduced production in Iran, the region’s top producer, due to ongoing power outages. The Middle East region includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen.
In Africa, crude steel output rose 4.1pct YoY to 11.4 mln tons between January and June 2025. Production in June alone increased by 3pct to 1.7 mln tons. The data includes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa.
Turkey, ranked as the world’s seventh-largest steel producer, reported a 1.7pct decline in output to 18.3 mln tons in the first half of the year. June production fell 3.5pct to 2.9 mln tons.
Iran, the tenth-largest global producer, saw its output fall sharply by 10.3pct YoY to 15.6 mln tons in H1 2025. In June alone, production dropped 15.5pct to 2.2 mln tons.
Globally, crude steel production declined by 2.2pct YoY to 934.3 mln tons in the first half of 2025. June output was down 5.8pct at 151.4 mln tons.
China, the world’s largest steel producer, recorded a 3pct YoY decrease in H1 production, totaling 514.8 mln tons. June output slumped 9.2pct to 83.2 mln tons.
India continued its growth momentum, producing 80.9 mln tons in the first half, up 9.2pct YoY. June production surged 13.3pct to 13.6 mln tons.
Japan’s steel output declined 5pct in H1 2025 to 40.6 mln tons, with June production falling 4.4pct to 6.7 mln tons.
