TEHRAN – Iran’s crude steel production rose 15.1 percent year-on-year to 2.6 million tons in January 2026, according to the latest data released by the World Steel Association (WSA).

The figures show Iran maintained its position as the world’s tenth-largest steel producer, outperforming the broader global trend.

Global crude steel production across 69 countries totaled 147.3 million tons in January, down 6.5 percent compared with January 2025.

China, the world’s largest steel producer, recorded a 13.9 percent decline in output to 75.3 million tons. India produced 15.1 million tons, up 10.5 percent year-on-year, while the United States posted a 3.3 percent increase to 7.1 million tons.

South Korea’s output rose 5.0 percent to 5.6 million tons. Japan produced 6.8 million tons, down 0.5 percent, and Brazil’s production fell 1.4 percent to 2.7 million tons.

Germany registered a 15 percent increase to 3.1 million tons, while Russia’s output declined 7.4 percent to 5.5 million tons. Turkey produced 3.4 million tons, up 5.8 percent year-on-year.

The data indicate that while global steel production contracted at the start of 2026, Iran expanded output at a double-digit pace, consolidating its ranking among leading producers.

According to World Steel Association’s previous report, Iran's steel production reached three million tons in December 2025, registering more than 16 percent growth compared to the same period last year.

The country remained in tenth place globally with a total steel production of approximately 32 million tons in 2025.

According to WSA data, the world steel makers produced 1.849 billion tons of steel in 2025, a two percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

In the last month of 2025 (December), Iranian steelmakers produced three million tons of steel, showing a 16.2 percent growth compared to the same period in 2024. In total (from January to December 2025), Iran's steel production reached 31.8 million tons, a 1.4 percent growth compared to the same period last year.

The report indicates that global steel production in December 2025 reached 139.6 million tons, a 3.7 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

According to World Steel Association statistics, China, as the world's largest steel producer, has faced a decline in production. China's steel production from January to December 2025 decreased by 4.4 percent to 960.8 million tons, and in December 2025, Chinese steelmakers produced 68.2 million tons of steel, a 10.3 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

EF/MA