Global crude steel output slipped marginally in May even as India maintained its growth momentum and retained its position as the world’s second-largest steel producer.
According to data released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel), crude steel production across 70 reporting countries stood at 157.9 million tonnes (mt) in May 2026, down 0.3 per cent from the year-ago period. The 70 countries account for nearly 98 per cent of global steel production.
India produced 14.1 mt of crude steel during May, registering a 1.9 per cent year-on-year increase. On a cumulative basis, output in the January-May period rose 7.8 per cent to 72.9 mt, making India one of the fastest-growing major steel-producing nations.
China, the world’s largest producer, reported a 2.7 per cent decline in output to 84.4 mt in May. Its production during the first five months of 2026 fell 3.9 per cent to 415.5 mt, reflecting subdued domestic demand and continued efforts to rationalise capacity.
The US posted a strong recovery, with production rising 9.2 per cent to 7.5 mt in May, while Japan’s output increased 1.7 per cent to 7 mt. South Korea recorded a 3.3 per cent growth to 5.4 mt. In contrast, Russia’s estimated production declined 5.4 per cent to 5.6 mt.
Strongest performer
Among regions, North America emerged as the strongest performer, with output increasing 15.6 per cent to 10.1 mt. Africa also saw robust growth of 10.3 per cent. However, production in Asia and Oceania — the largest steel-producing region — declined 0.9 per cent to 116.2 mt. The Middle East witnessed the sharpest fall, with output dropping 19.4 per cent to 3.9 mt.
Global crude steel production during January-May 2026 stood at 773.1 mt, down 1.5 per cent from the corresponding period last year, underlining the uneven recovery in steel demand across regions.