Crude steel production in the Middle East rose slightly by 0.5pct YoY to 54.1 mln tons, but December output dropped by 4.5pct YoY to 4.6 mln tons, primarily due to lower Iranian production, according to the World Steel Association.
Africa saw annual growth of 1pct YoY to 22.3 mln tons, though December output declined by 1pct YoY to 1.9 mln tons.
Turkey, the eighth-largest steel producer globally, reported a significant 9.4pct YoY increase to 36.9 mln tons, but its December production fell by 7.6pct YoY to 3 mln tons.
Iran, the tenth-largest producer, achieved modest growth of 0.8pct YoY to 31 mln tons in 2024, while its December output declined by 8.2pct YoY to 2.6 mln tons.
Globally, crude steel production declined by 0.9pct YoY to 1.839 bln tons in 2024, but December saw a 5.6pct YoY increase to 144.5 mln tons.
China, the world’s largest steel producer, experienced a 1.7pct YoY decline to 1 bln tons in 2024, yet December production surged by nearly 12pct YoY to 76 mln tons.
India demonstrated strong performance, with annual production growing by 6.3pct YoY to 149.6 mln tons and December output rising 9.5pct YoY to 13.6 mln tons.
Japan, however, saw a 3.4pct YoY decline to 84 mln tons in 2024, with December output down 1.1pct YoY to 6.9 mln tons.
