Türkiye boosts steel output as global production falls

Worldwide crude steel production fell 1.9% in April compared to the same month last year, reaching 153.4 million tons, according to data released Friday by the World Steel Association (worldsteel). The decline was primarily driven by lower output from China, the Middle East, and Russia along with other CIS nations plus Ukraine.

Regional declines and bright spots

The Brussels-based association, which collects data from 69 countries representing approximately 98% of global crude steel output in 2025, reported that the January-April period also saw a 2% drop year-on-year to 613.3 million tons. China, the world’s largest producer, saw its April output fall 2.8% to 83.6 million tons, with a 4.1% decline in the first four months to 331.1 million tons. The Middle East recorded the steepest regional fall, down 27.6% to 3.7 million tons, while Russia and other CIS countries plus Ukraine posted a 13.4% decrease to 6 million tons.

Türkiye stands out with strong growth

By contrast, several major producers saw gains. US crude steel output rose 9.4% to 7.2 million tons, India climbed 3.9% to 13.8 million tons, and South Korea increased 4.8% to 5.2 million tons. Türkiye’s crude steel production surged 9.4% year-on-year in April to 3.3 million tons, securing its seventh-place position among the world’s top 10 steel-producing nations. In the January-April period, Türkiye’s output rose 6.3% to 13 million tons. The European Union’s total output dipped 1.8% to 11 million tons, though Germany—the bloc’s largest producer—saw a 9.5% rise to 3.2 million tons. As a key player in global steel markets and a major supplier to construction and infrastructure projects across the region, Türkiye’s continued output growth underscores its industrial resilience amid global headwinds.