The global steel industry recorded mixed performance in the first half of 2026, with crude steel production declining 0.7% year on year to 931.5 million tonnes. According to the latest update of the 17th edition of World Steel Recycling in Figures, compiled with data from worldsteel and reviewed by BIR Ferrous Statistics Advisor Rolf Willeke, recycled steel consumption increased in several major markets, including India, the United States, Turkey, Japan and South Korea. The updated report also provides additional data on Africa’s steel production and recycled steel trade.
Global Crude Steel Production Declines 0.7%
According to worldsteel data covering 70 countries, global crude steel production reached 931.5 million tonnes between January and June 2026, representing a 0.7% decrease compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
Production increased in Africa, Other Europe and North America. However, declines were reported in Asia/Oceania, the EU-27, the Middle East, South America, and Russia and other CIS plus Ukraine.
Asia/Oceania remained the world’s largest crude steel-producing region, despite a 0.9% year-on-year decline to 690.1 million tonnes.
Regional production figures for the first half of 2026 were as follows:
- Africa: Production increased 10% to 12.6 million tonnes.
- EU-27: Output declined 0.3% to 65.4 million tonnes.
- Other Europe: Production rose 5.6% to 22.1 million tonnes.
- Middle East: Output decreased 7.3% to 25.9 million tonnes.
- North America: Production increased 5.7% to 56.5 million tonnes.
- South America: Output declined 0.8% to 20.5 million tonnes.
- Russia and other CIS plus Ukraine: Production fell 8% to 38.6 million tonnes.
Direct Reduced Iron Production Falls 1%
Direct reduced iron (DRI) production remains an important indicator of developments in the transition towards green steel. According to worldsteel, output across the 12 reporting countries totalled 61.8 million tonnes in January-June 2026, down 1% from the same period in 2025.
India retained its position as the largest DRI producer, with output increasing 6% year on year to 31 million tonnes.
Other countries reporting increases included Argentina, where production rose 21.8% to 0.531 million tonnes; Mexico, up 19.9% to 3.41 million tonnes; Venezuela, up 3.3% to 0.152 million tonnes; Russia, up 1.9% to 4.251 million tonnes; and South Africa, up 258.5% to 0.077 million tonnes.
In contrast, DRI production declined in several markets. Canada recorded a 2.6% decrease to 0.777 million tonnes, while Iran’s output fell 13.2% to 13.976 million tonnes. Qatar registered a 20.4% decline to 0.928 million tonnes, and Saudi Arabia’s production dropped 28.4% to 2.33 million tonnes.
China’s Recycled Steel Consumption Falls 7.1%
Across the key countries and regions covered by the report, recycled steel consumption declined 0.7% year on year to 234.1 million tonnes in the first half of 2026. Crude steel production across these markets also decreased 0.7% to 787 million tonnes.
Recycled steel consumption increased in the United States, India, Turkey, Japan and South Korea, while China and the EU-27 recorded declines.
China remained the world’s largest consumer of recycled steel, although consumption fell 7.1% year on year to 101.32 million tonnes during January-June 2026. The decline exceeded the country’s 3% reduction in crude steel production, which totalled 500 million tonnes.
In the EU-27, recycled steel consumption decreased 3.2% to 38.138 million tonnes, compared with a 0.3% decline in crude steel production.
The United States recorded increases in both indicators. Recycled steel consumption rose 9.3% to 29.4 million tonnes, while crude steel production increased 6.3% to 42.8 million tonnes.
India Records Strongest Growth in Recycled Steel Consumption
India recorded the strongest positive performance among the markets for which recycled steel consumption data were available. Consumption increased 17% year on year to 22.5 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, while crude steel production rose 7.1% to 87 million tonnes.
Turkey also recorded growth in both recycled steel consumption and crude steel production. Recycled steel consumption increased 4.8% to 16.8 million tonnes, while crude steel production rose 8.1% to 19.8 million tonnes.
Japan’s recycled steel consumption increased 1.6% to 15.14 million tonnes, despite a 0.4% decline in crude steel production to 40.4 million tonnes.
South Korea recorded a 4.9% increase in recycled steel consumption to 10.8 million tonnes. Its crude steel production also rose 2.1% to 31.7 million tonnes.
Recycled Steel Share in Crude Steel Production
The share of recycled steel in crude steel production varied considerably across major steel-producing markets during January-June 2026.
Turkey recorded the highest share among the listed markets, with recycled steel accounting for 84.9% of its crude steel production.
The corresponding shares were 68.7% in the United States, 58.3% in the EU-27, 37.5% in Japan, 34% in South Korea, 25.9% in India and 20.3% in China.
Turkey’s Recycled Steel Imports Increase 3.1%
Turkey remained the world’s largest recycled steel importer in the first half of 2026. Its imports increased 3.1% year on year to 9.696 million tonnes.
The United States was Turkey’s largest supplier, with shipments increasing 2.9% to 1.773 million tonnes. The Netherlands supplied 1.202 million tonnes, down 20%, while the United Kingdom recorded a 20.8% increase to 1.117 million tonnes.
Imports from Romania rose 56.8% to 0.749 million tonnes, while shipments from Belgium declined 0.3% to 0.739 million tonnes.
The EU-27 ranked second among the world’s recycled steel importers, recording an 8.4% increase to 2.69 million tonnes during January-June 2026.
Import growth was also reported in the United States, where volumes increased 11.8% to 2.511 million tonnes. Pakistan’s imports rose 20.6% to 1.504 million tonnes, while Mexico recorded a 77.2% increase to 1.174 million tonnes. Thailand’s imports grew 5% to 1.086 million tonnes.
Several markets experienced declines. India’s recycled steel imports fell 49.1% to 2.330 million tonnes, Vietnam’s imports decreased 19% to 1.803 million tonnes, and Taiwan recorded a 20% decline to 0.760 million tonnes.
EU-27 Maintains Position as Largest Recycled Steel Exporter
The EU-27 remained the world’s largest recycled steel exporter in the first half of 2026. Its overseas shipments increased 4.5% year on year to 8.520 million tonnes.
Turkey remained its principal destination, although shipments declined 2.6% to 5.446 million tonnes. Exports to Egypt increased 96% to 1.106 million tonnes, while shipments to India fell 11.8% to 0.427 million tonnes. Exports to Pakistan rose 41.2% to 0.355 million tonnes.
The United States retained its position as the world’s second-largest recycled steel exporter. Its shipments increased 2.1% to 6.124 million tonnes during January-June 2026.
Turkey remained the leading destination for US recycled steel exports, although shipments declined 7.1% to 1.732 million tonnes. Exports to Mexico increased 114.7% to 1.194 million tonnes, while shipments to Thailand rose 57% to 0.496 million tonnes and those to Canada increased 57.2% to 0.494 million tonnes.
The United Kingdom also recorded export growth, with overseas shipments increasing 8% year on year to 3.374 million tonnes. Turkey received 0.964 million tonnes, down 1.8%, while exports to Egypt rose 62.8% to 0.804 million tonnes. Shipments to Morocco increased 26.4% to 0.607 million tonnes, whereas exports to Pakistan declined 0.2% to 0.431 million tonnes.
Canada, Australia and Singapore Report Export Growth
Among other major exporters, Canada recorded a 31.7% increase in overseas shipments to 2.513 million tonnes. Exports to the United States, its principal destination, rose 22.6% to 1.867 million tonnes.
Australia’s recycled steel exports increased 18.5% to 1.317 million tonnes. Bangladesh received 0.455 million tonnes, up 10.4%, while exports to Vietnam rose 41.2% to 0.251 million tonnes.
Singapore recorded a 33% increase in recycled steel exports to 0.747 million tonnes. Shipments to Bangladesh increased 68.4% to 0.407 million tonnes, while exports to Vietnam rose 17.4% to 0.099 million tonnes.
Japan experienced a decline in overseas shipments. Its recycled steel exports fell 7.4% year on year to 3.535 million tonnes in the first half of 2026.
Vietnam remained Japan’s largest listed buyer, receiving 1.515 million tonnes, down 9.8%. Exports to Bangladesh increased 23.5% to 0.797 million tonnes, while shipments to South Korea fell 11.3% to 0.551 million tonnes. Exports to Thailand increased 147.4% to 0.288 million tonnes.
Mexico also recorded a significant decline, with recycled steel exports falling 21.6% to 0.55 million tonnes. Shipments to the United States decreased 31.1% to 0.445 million tonnes, while exports to Taiwan fell 59.5% to 0.007 million tonnes.
The report also noted that export prices in the United States and the EU followed similar trends during the first six months of 2026.
Africa’s Steel Production and Recycled Steel Trade
The latest update of World Steel Recycling in Figures includes additional information on Africa’s steel industry and recycled steel trade.
Africa produced 12.6 million tonnes of crude steel in the first half of 2026. Egypt was the continent’s largest producer, with output reaching 5.7 million tonnes, an increase of 13.6% compared with the same period in 2025.
Egypt also ranked as Africa’s leading recycled steel importer. Its imports increased 98.6% year on year to 2.1 million tonnes during January-June 2026.
On the export side, South Africa was Africa’s leading recycled steel exporter, with shipments totalling 0.11 million tonnes. However, this represented a 33.5% decline compared with the first half of 2025.
The additional African data expands the report’s coverage of regional steel production and recycled steel trade, alongside its analysis of consumption, imports and exports across major global markets.