Global Crude Steel Output Falls 1.2% in August 2026

Global crude steel production declined 1.2% year-on-year in August 2026 to 144.2 million tonnes (Mt), highlighting continued pressure across major steel-producing markets. According to World Steel Association data covering 70 reporting countries, global output also fell around 3.3% compared with July. During January-August 2026, worldwide crude steel production reached approximately 1.22 billion tonnes, down 0.7% from the same period last year. China, the world’s largest steel producer, recorded 74.6 Mt of crude steel output in August, marking a 3.7% year-on-year decline amid weaker domestic steel demand. India continued to outperform the broader market, with crude steel production rising 4.6% to 14.8 Mt. US output also increased 3% to 7.3 Mt, while Japan produced 6.7 Mt, up marginally by 0.4%. Vietnam registered one of the strongest increases among major producers, with output jumping 36.4% year-on-year to 2.7 Mt. The latest figures underline diverging trends in the global steel industry, with declining Chinese production offset partly by growth across India, the US and several emerging steel markets.