Global crude steel output slipped 0.3% year-on-year in May 2026 to 157.9 million tonnes (mt), according to data released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel). The figure, covering 70 reporting countries that account for nearly 98% of global production, masked divergent regional trends. India retained its rank as the world's second-largest steel producer, while China — the top producer — saw a decline.
Regional Production Trends
North America emerged as the strongest performing region in May, with output surging 15.6% to 10.1 mt, according to worldsteel. Africa also recorded robust growth of 10.3%. However, production in Asia and Oceania — the largest steel-producing region — declined 0.9% to 116.2 mt. The Middle East witnessed the sharpest fall, with output dropping 19.4% to 3.9 mt. The data underscore an uneven recovery in steel demand across regions.
Country-Level Performance
| Country | May 2026 Output (mt) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| China | 84.4 | -2.7% |
| India | 14.1 | +1.9% |
| United States | 7.5 | +9.2% |
| Japan | 7.0 | +1.7% |
| South Korea | 5.4 | +3.3% |
| Russia (estimated) | 5.6 | -5.4% |
India produced 14.1 mt of crude steel in May 2026, registering a 1.9% year-on-year increase, according to worldsteel data reported by The Hindu BusinessLine. On a cumulative basis, output in the January-May period rose 7.8% 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% decline in output to 84.4 mt in May, with its first-five-months production falling 3.9% to 415.5 mt, reflecting subdued domestic demand and continued capacity rationalisation efforts.
The United States posted a strong recovery, with production rising 9.2% to 7.5 mt in May. Japan's output increased 1.7% to 7 mt, while South Korea recorded a 3.3% growth to 5.4 mt. In contrast, Russia's estimated production declined 5.4% to 5.6 mt.
Cumulative Output and Outlook
Global crude steel production during January-May 2026 stood at 773.1 mt, down 1.5% from the corresponding period last year, according to worldsteel. The marginal decline in May and the cumulative slide underline the uneven demand recovery across regions. For commodity traders and procurement teams, the data signal that while Indian and US markets offer growth opportunities, Chinese demand remains weak, and Middle Eastern markets face significant headwinds.
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