World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 169.2 million tonnes (Mt) in March 2021, a 15.2% increase compared to March 2020.
Production (Mt)Growth (% y-on-y)Crude steel productionWorldROWChinaWorld (%)ROW (%)China (%)Oct-19Nov-19Dec-19Jan-20Feb-20Mar-20Apr-20May-20Jun-20Jul-20Aug-20Sep-20Oct-20Nov-20Dec-20Jan-21Feb-21Mar-21050100150200-60-3003060worldsteel.orgAug-20●World :158 Mt
Crude steel production by region
Global crude steel production was 486.9 Mt in the first three months of 2021, up by 10.0% compared to the same period in 2020.
Asia and Oceania produced 356.9 Mt of crude steel in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 13.2% over the first quarter of 2020.
The EU (27) produced 37.8 Mt of crude steel in the first quarter of 2021, up by 3.1% compared to the same quarter of 2020.
North America’s crude steel production in the first three months of 2021 was 28.1 Mt, a decrease of 5.2% compared to the first quarter of 2020.
The CIS produced 26.2 Mt of crude steel in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 3.1% over the first quarter of 2020.
| Table 1. Crude steel production by region |
| Mar 2021 (Mt) | % change Mar 21/20 |
| Jan-Mar 2021 (Mt) | % change Jan-Mar 21/20 |
| Africa | 1.5 | 25.9 |
| 3.9 | 3.4 |
| Asia and Oceania | 123.8 | 17.6 |
| 356.9 | 13.2 |
| CIS | 9.1 | 7.0 |
| 26.2 | 3.1 |
| EU (27) | 13.6 | 17.5 |
| 37.8 | 3.1 |
| Europe, Other | 4.4 | 10.5 |
| 12.6 | 8.3 |
| Middle East | 3.6 | 6.6 |
| 10.5 | 3.2 |
| North America | 9.7 | 0.1 |
| 28.1 | -5.2 |
| South America | 3.6 | 8.1 |
| 10.9 | 7.1 |
| Total 64 countries | 169.2 | 15.2 |
| 486.9 | 10.0 |
The 64 countries included in this table accounted for approximately 98% of total world crude steel production in 2020. Regions and countries covered by the table:
- Africa:Egypt, Libya, South Africa
- Asia and Oceania:Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Vietnam
- CIS:Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
- European Union (27)
- Europe, Other:Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, United Kingdom
- Middle East:Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
- North America:Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, United States
- South America:Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Top 10 steel-producing countries
China produced 94.0 Mt in March 2021, up 19.1% on March 2020. India produced 10.0 Mt, up 23.9%. Japan produced 8.3 Mt, up 4.6%. The United States produced 7.1 Mt, up 1.0%. Russia is estimated to have produced 6.6 Mt, up 9.4%. South Korea produced 6.1 Mt, up 4.7%. Germany is estimated to have produced 3.6 Mt, up 10.4%. Turkey produced 3.4 Mt, up 9.2%. Brazil produced 2.8 Mt, up 4.1%. Iran is estimated to have produced 2.6 Mt, up 10.7%.
| Table 2. Top 10 steel-producing countries |
| Mar 2021 (Mt) |
| % change Mar 21/20 |
| Jan-Mar 2021 (Mt) | % change Jan-Mar 21/20 |
| China | 94.0 |
| 19.1 |
| 271.0 | 15.6 |
| India | 10.0 |
| 23.9 |
| 29.6 | 10.4 |
| Japan | 8.3 |
| 4.6 |
| 23.7 | -1.7 |
| United States | 7.1 |
| 1.0 |
| 20.4 | -6.3 |
| Russia | 6.6 | e | 9.4 |
| 18.9 | 4.4 |
| South Korea | 6.1 |
| 4.7 |
| 17.6 | 3.8 |
| Germany | 3.6 | e | 10.4 |
| 10.0 | 1.7 |
| Turkey | 3.4 |
| 9.2 |
| 9.8 | 9.5 |
| Brazil | 2.8 |
| 4.1 |
| 8.7 | 6.2 |
| Iran | 2.6 | e | 10.7 |
| 7.5 | 10.7 |
(20min delay)