According to the World Steel Association's "Steel Statistical Yearbook 2025" released in December 2025, global crude steel production in 2024 was 1.887 billion tons, a decrease of 0.90% year-on-year; continuous casting billet production was 1.84 billion tons, a decrease of 0.94% year-on-year, accounting for 97.5% of crude steel production, remaining flat year-on-year. Pig iron production was 1.292 billion tons, a decrease of 1.4% compared to 2023. Direct reduced iron production was 146 million tons, an increase of 5.0% compared to 2023. Iron ore production was 2.604 billion tons, an increase of 2.2% compared to 2023. Scrap steel exports were 95.934 million tons, and imports were 95.14 million tons.

Crude Steel Output by Main Production Processes

By production process, in 2024, global crude steel output from converter steel production was 1.33 billion tons, accounting for 70.5% of global crude steel output; electric arc furnace steel production was 552 million tons, accounting for 29.3% of global crude steel output; and output from other processes was 5.12 million tons, accounting for 0.3% of global crude steel output. By region, Asia accounted for 80.7% of converter steel production and 19.3% of electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production; the EU-27 accounted for 55.8% and 44.2%; the Middle East accounted for 4.6% and 95.4%; Africa accounted for 12.8% and 87.2%; North America accounted for 28.2% and 71.8%; South America accounted for 66.5% and 32.5%; Russia and other CIS countries, as well as Ukraine, accounted for 62.2% and 32.5%; and Oceania accounted for 75.2% and 24.8%.

Steel Imports and Exports

In 2024, global exports of semi-finished and finished steel products reached 449 million tons. Of these, Asia accounted for 233 million tons, Oceania 1.211 million tons, the Middle East 19.456 million tons, Africa 8.501 million tons, South America 10.634 million tons, North America 19.522 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 18.8 million tons, the EU-27 115 million tons, and other European countries 23.092 million tons. In 2024, global imports of semi-finished and finished steel products totaled 436 million tons. Of these, Asia accounted for 127 million tons, Oceania 3.883 million tons, the Middle East 31.977 million tons, Africa 21.757 million tons, South America 17.151 million tons, North America 60.358 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 8.901 million tons, the EU-27 133 million tons, and other European countries 32.974 million tons.

In 2024, global long steel exports totaled 102 million tons. Of this, Asia accounted for 40.47 million tons, Oceania 64,000 tons, the Middle East 6.037 million tons, Africa 4.293 million tons, South America 1.369 million tons, North America 4.457 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 2.09 million tons, the EU-27 33.192 million tons, and other European countries 10.216 million tons. In 2024, global long steel imports totaled 99.543 million tons, of which Asia accounted for 24.994 million tons, Oceania 1.612 million tons, the Middle East 8.241 million tons, Africa 6.096 million tons, South America 4.23 million tons, North America 11.804 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 2.673 million tons, the EU-27 33.117 million tons, and other European countries 6.776 million tons.

In 2024, global lumber exports totaled 242 million tons. Of this, Asia accounted for 148 million tons, Oceania 1.089 million tons, the Middle East 1.383 million tons, Africa 2.454 million tons, South America 1.099 million tons, North America 10.807 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 3.837 million tons, the EU-27 65.155 million tons, and other European countries 8.693 million tons. In 2024, global lumber imports totaled 236 million tons. Of this, Asia accounted for 77.974 million tons, Oceania 0.84 million tons, the Middle East 14.54 million tons, Africa 11.105 million tons, South America 9.329 million tons, North America 26.479 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 4.397 million tons, the EU-27 76.91 million tons, and other European countries 14.198 million tons.

In 2024, global pipe exports totaled 39.295 million tons. Of this, Asia accounted for 19.532 million tons, Oceania 44,000 tons, the Middle East 1.229 million tons, Africa 567,000 tons, South America 803,000 tons, North America 3.028 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 918,000 tons, the EU-27 10.07 million tons, and other European countries 3.105 million tons. In 2024, global pipe imports totaled 37.115 million tons. Of this, Asia accounted for 6.3 million tons, Oceania 1.226 million tons, the Middle East 4.978 million tons, Africa 2.243 million tons, South America 1.515 million tons, North America 7.483 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 1.34 million tons, the EU-27 9.923 million tons, and other European countries 2.108 million tons.

Apparent Consumption

In 2024, global apparent crude steel consumption totaled 1.856 billion tons. Of this, Asia accounted for 1.281 billion tons, the Middle East 62.264 million tons, Africa 43.672 million tons, South America 46.937 million tons, North America 150 million tons, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 63.218 million tons, the EU-27 143 million tons, and other European countries 58.605 million tons.

In 2024, global apparent crude steel consumption per capita was 228 kg. Of this, Asia 306 kg, the Middle East 200 kg, Africa 27 kg, South America 105 kg, North America 250 kg, Russia and other CIS countries and Ukraine 218 kg, the EU-27 314 kg, and other European countries 299 kg.