Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 27% from 389,000 short tons in May 2024 to 285,000 tons in May 2025. The decline was mainly due to lower rebar imports from Egypt, Turkey, and Bulgaria, which was offset by a strong increase from Vietnam.
US long products imports in the first five months of 2025 were 7% lower than in the same period last year. This was the result of lower rebar (-11%), structural angles & channels (-45%), light shapes (-38%) and merchant bar (-37%) imports. In contrast, wire rod and parallel flange sections imports rose between the first five months of 2024 and the first five months of 2025.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 86.6 million metric tonnes in May, 6.9% lower than in May, 2024. Chinese production in the first five months of 2025 was 2.3% 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 May, 2025 at 10.1 million tonnes, 12.3% higher than in May, 2024. Net finished steel exports in the first five months of 2025 were 10.3% higher than in the first five months of 2024.
China produced 86.6 million tonnes in May, accounting for 55% of world output and declining 6.9% compared to May, 2024. World crude steel production outside of China rose 0.2% on last May, with increases in India (+9.7%), Iran (+4.5%), Brazil (+5.0%), and the US (+1.7%) offset by declines in Russia (-6.9%), Japan (-4.7%), and Germany (-6.4%).
Crude steel production in the first five months of 2025 was 0.3% lower than in the same period last year.
Astrid Korf-Wolman, James Moss, and Mike Walsh discuss the highlights of the last ten podcast episodes in the wrap-up of The Green Steel Challenge Season 2 Finale: Highlights & Reflections. You’ll hear specific examples of how podcast guests are leading the effort to decarbonize steel production and how issues like location, innovation, co-operation, policy-making, and project economics are key to their decision-making.
The Green Steel Challenge podcasts are produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities and the discussion is all about how exactly we can deliver Green Steel. Season 3 will be available after the summer break including guests in the energy sector and nuclear start-ups.
Following the podcast episode with the Global Steel Climate Council’s Adina Renee Adler, the Green Steel Challenge‘s newest episode presents an important conversation with Annie Heaton, CEO of Responsible Steel. She explains how the 13 ResponsibleSteel principles of sustainability cover not only carbon emissions, but also other critical environmental and social impacts of steelmaking.
The Green Steel Challenge podcasts are produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities and the discussion is all about how exactly we can deliver Green Steel. The next podcast will be Highlights & Reflections on Season 2, available on June 17th, featuring Astrid Korf, Mike Walsh and James Moss.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 86.0 million metric tonnes in April with no change compared to April, 2024. Chinese production in the first four months of 2025 was 1.0% 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 April, 2025 at 9.9 million tonnes, 16.0% higher than in April 2024. Net finished steel exports in the first four months of 2025 were 9.8% higher than in the first four months of 2024.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
Construction site of the transfer passage of EPANGGONGNAN (Epang Palace S) Station, Xi’an Metro by Bob Wehn, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
