Ankara: Trkiye's crude steel production reached 38.1 million metric tons last year, up from 36.9 million in 2024, making it the world's seventh-largest steel producer, according to the World Steel Association's latest report.
According to Anadolu Agency, a spokesperson for the World Steel Association indicated that Trkiye's ascent to the seventh-largest steel producer in 2025 highlights the trend of increasing steel production in emerging economies, while mature economies show stagnation. This trend is expected to persist in the coming years.
Veysel Yayan, secretary-general of the Turkish Steel Producers' Association (TCUD), noted that despite fluctuations, the Turkish steel sector has surpassed Germany, showcasing the robustness of its industrial infrastructure. He emphasized that Trkiye could continue its growth if it manages to keep imports below 19.5 million metric tons in the future, potentially overtaking Russia or South Korea. Trkiye currently holds the position as Europe's largest steel producer.
The increase in Trkiye's crude steel production was attributed to a recovery in export markets, effective use of production capacity, and investments aimed at enhancing competitiveness, alongside domestic demand. The sector's future performance is expected to be influenced by the global economic recovery.
China remains the world's largest steel producer with 960.8 million metric tons of crude steel, despite a drop from 1.0051 billion metric tons the previous year. India retained its second position, increasing its crude steel production to 164.9 million metric tons from 149.4 million.
Yayan highlighted that while China is unlikely to lose its top position, India is strengthening its hold on second place with consistent growth. India is projected to reach 350 million metric tons of crude steel by 2047. Meanwhile, China's production is expected to decrease slightly due to a slowdown in its construction sector, with exports potentially declining due to global protective measures.
Other market leaders include the US, which overtook Japan to rank third with 80.7 million metric tons, followed by Russia and South Korea. Germany, Brazil, and Iran round out the top ten, with Vietnam, Italy, and Indonesia following. Global crude steel production fell to 1.848 million metric tons in 2025, largely due to a decrease in China's output. However, some countries, including Trkiye and India, managed to increase their production.