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
China produced 86.0 million tonnes in April, accounting for 55% of world output with no change compared to April, 2024. World crude steel production outside of China rose 0.7% on last April, with increases in India (+5.6%) and Turkey (+7.0%) offset by declines in Japan (-6.4%), Germany (-10.1%), Russia (-5.1%) and South Korea (-2.5%).
Crude steel production in the first four months of 2025 was 0.6% lower than in the same period last year.
Hot-rolled products at NLMK La Louviere (NLMK Group) from Worldsteel Image Library
The Green Steel Challenge presents its first podcast about steelmaking decarbonization with a Middle Eastern steelmaker: Emirates Steel. Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer Michael Rion explains how they were the first steelmaker in the world to adopt carbon capture and how they are investing heavily to scale up hydrogen production following the government’s push to make Abu Dhabi a green hydrogen hub.
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 guest will be Annie Heaton, CEO of Responsible Steel, available on June 3rd.
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 45% from 830,000 short tons in April, 2024 to 457,000 tons in April, 2025. The decline was mainly due to lower hot rolled imports from Canada and South Korea, as well as lower hot dip galvanized imports from a number of countries including Vietnam, Mexico, Canada and Brazil.
US flat products imports in the first four months of 2025 were 22% lower than in the same period last year. Imports of all flat product categories declined year-on-year with hot dip galvanized -27%, hot rolled -21%, cut plate -42%, and cold rolled -6%.
What exactly is green steel? Which steelmakers actually produce steel using a process that emits little carbon? How can we trust that the reported emissions are real? In the latest Green Steel Challenge podcast, Adina Renee Adler explains how the Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC) is addressing these questions by offering a decarbonized steel standard and a platform for steelmakers to achieve their decarbonization goals. Renowned GSCC members include Nucor, Steel Dynamics, Beltrame, Duferco, and Gerdau.
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 guest will be Michael Rion, CEO of Emirates Steel, viewable on May 20th.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 92.8 million metric tonnes in March, 4.6% higher than in March, 2024. Chinese production in the first three months of 2025 was 1.3% 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 March, 2025 at 10.0 million tonnes, 7.4% higher than in March 2024. Net finished steel exports in the first three months of 2025 were 7.6% higher than in the first three months of 2024.
