Crude steel production in the Middle East fell 0.9pct YoY to 32.3 mln tons in the first seven months of 2025, according to the World Steel Association. However, July output jumped 27pct YoY to 4.4 mln tons. The region includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen.
In Africa, production rose 4pct YoY to 13.4 mln tons in January-July, though July output dipped 2pct to 1.9 mln tons. The data covers Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa.
Turkey, the world’s seventh-largest producer, saw output decline 0.9pct YoY to 21.5 mln tons in the first seven months. In July, however, production grew 4.2pct YoY to 3.2 mln tons.
Iran, ranked tenth globally, recorded a 5.2pct YoY drop to 18.2 mln tons in Jan-July, but July output surged nearly 30pct YoY to 2.2 mln tons.
Globally, crude steel production fell 1.9pct YoY to 1.086 bln tons in the first seven months of 2025, with July output down 1.3pct to 150.1 mln tons.
China, the world’s largest producer, saw output slide 3.1pct YoY to 594.5 mln tons in Jan-July and fall 4pct YoY to 79.7 mln tons in July alone.
India maintained strong momentum, producing 94.9 mln tons in Jan-July, up 9.8pct YoY, while July output rose 14pct to 14 mln tons.
Japan reported a 4.7pct decline to 47.5 mln tons in the Jan-July period, with July production down 2.5pct YoY to 6.9 mln tons.
