Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 69.9 million metric tonnes in November, 10.9% lower than in November, 2024. Chinese production in the first eleven months of 2025 was 4.8% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in November, 2025 at 9.5 million tonnes, 7.7% higher than in November, 2024. Net finished steel exports in the first eleven months of 2025 were 13.2% higher than in the first eleven months of 2024.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
China National Highway 312 construction site (20240924) by Fumikas Sagisavas, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
China produced 69.9 million tonnes in November, accounting for 50% of world output and declining 10.9% compared to November, 2024. World crude steel production outside of China rose 2.6% on last November, with increases in India (+10.8%), the US (+8.5%), Turkey (+10.0%) and Iran (+9.2%) offset by declines in Russia (estimated -6.6%), South Korea (-4.8%) and Japan (-1.6%).
Crude steel production in the first eleven months of 2025 was -2.5% lower than in the same period last year.
Rolling process at NLMK Verona, Italy (NLMK Group) from Worldsteel Image Library
The Green Steel Challenge presents Andy Marsh at Plug Power in the newest podcast episode released yesterday. He describes their two areas of expertise: hydrogen fuel cells and building/operating hydrogen electrolyzers.
Marsh explains how the world needs more renewable electricity and hydrogen pipelines in order to bring down the price of hydrogen and allow the decarbonization of industrial processes like steelmaking. As renewable electricity costs fall and hydrogen infrastructure expands, green hydrogen will become increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels and will be the obvious choice. You’ll hear where hydrogen is being produced and consumed competitively at the moment and where hydrogen production is planned in the future.
About The Green Steel Challenge: Produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities, the podcast delivers practical insights on steelmaking decarbonization from industry leaders making it happen. The next episode, “The Journey So Far”, discusses Season 3’s key lessons and will be released January 13th.
Access to affordable renewable energy remains one of the biggest hurdles for steel producers pursuing decarbonization. The challenge isn’t just about cost—it’s about finding energy suppliers who can deliver the massive scale, long-term reliability, and price certainty that steelmaking operations require to pursue their own large-scale decarbonization investments.
Alex Tancock, CEO of Intercontinental Energy, joins The Green Steel Challenge to discuss how his company’s gigascale clean energy projects in Oman and Australia will supply renewable hydrogen and electricity at the volumes and economics that can actually move the needle on steel decarbonization.
Next Episode: December 16th Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power, continues the renewable energy conversation, exploring hydrogen infrastructure and deployment strategies for industry.
About The Green Steel Challenge: Produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities, the podcast delivers practical insights on steelmaking decarbonization from industry leaders making it happen.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 72.0 million metric tonnes in October, 12.1% lower than in October, 2024. Chinese production in the first ten months of 2025 was 4.2% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in October, 2025 at 9.3 million tonnes, 12.8% lower than in October, 2024. Net finished steel exports in the first ten months of 2025 were 7.4% higher than in the first ten months of 2024.
China produced 72.0 million tonnes in October, accounting for 54% of world output and declining 12.1% compared to October, 2024. World crude steel production outside of China rose 1.3% on last October, with increases in India (+5.9%), the US (+9.4%), and Iran (+12.0%) offset by declines in Russia (estimated -6.2%) and South Korea (-5.8%).
Crude steel production in the first nine months of 2025 was -2.3% lower than in the same period last year.
Cold rolled coils in storage at POSCO Pohang Steelworks, South Korea from Worldsteel Image Library
