What was the global crude steel production in February 2026?

Output totaled 141.8 million tonnes, down 2.2% compared to February 2025.

Which regions saw production growth?

Africa, the Middle East, and North America recorded modest increases.

Which region experienced the sharpest decline?

Russia and CIS nations plus Ukraine saw the steepest drop at 10.5%.

Global Steel Output Down 2.2% YoY in February 2026

Steel News | 2026-03-25 09:58:02

Production in the Middle East rose marginally by 0.1% to 3.7 Mt, and North America edged up 0.5% to 8.5 Mt.

By Paul Ploumis

Summary

Global steel production declined 2.2% YoY to 141.8 Mt in February 2026.
Regional output trends were mixed, with gains in Africa and declines in Asia and Europe.
China remained the top producer despite a drop, while India and the U.S. recorded growth.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Global crude steel production across 69 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) reached 141.8 million tonnes (Mt) in February 2026, reflecting a 2.2% decline compared to February 2025. These countries accounted for approximately 98% of total global steel output in the previous year, highlighting the significance of the data.

Regional production trends remained uneven. Africa recorded a 4.7% increase to 2.0 Mt, while Asia and Oceania—the largest producing region—saw output decline 1.9% to 105.3 Mt. The EU (27) registered a 3.6% drop to 9.8 Mt, whereas other European producers posted a 3.1% gain.

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Production in the Middle East rose marginally by 0.1% to 3.7 Mt, and North America edged up 0.5% to 8.5 Mt. In contrast, Russia and other CIS nations plus Ukraine reported a sharp 10.5% decline, with South America also falling 7.7%.

During the first two months of 2026, total output stood at 298.2 Mt, down 1.5% year-on-year. Among leading producers, China remained dominant despite a 3.6% decline with a cumulative production of 160.3 Mt, while India and the United States posted notable year-on-year growth of 9.7% and 4.9% respectively.