SMA, AISI talk significance of US passing Japan in steel output

The US surpassed Japan in annual steel production in 2025 for the first time in 26 years, according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel). The heads of two steel trade groups spoke of the significance of the event, which brought the US to the number three slot after China and India.

The US produced 82 million metric tons (mt) of steel in 2025, up 3.1% year over year, worldsteel said. Japan, meanwhile, produced 80.7 million mt of steel during the same period, a 4% decline. The last time the US was ahead of Japan occurred in 1999.

SMA

Philip K. Bell, president and CEO of the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), told SMU, “It’s absolutely something that should be noticed.”

“I think it confirms that what we’re doing for our domestic steel industry is working,” Bell said.

He called it a “watershed moment” because it “busts the myth that the American steel industry is in decline.”

“Keep in mind, our American steel industry is very resilient, and quite frankly, it’s become the envy of the world due to its efficiency, its competitiveness, and its productivity,” Bell said.

The SMA has found that since 2022, there’s been about $37 billion in new investment to modernize the US steel industry. This has been done to make it more efficient and competitive.

“It’s also being done in an environment now that is pro-manufacturing, where regulatory overreach is being rolled back, and where tax cuts are set to take effect,” Bell said.

He cited the increased Section 232 steel tariffs by this Trump administration as a crucial part of US growth. On that note, Bell views the White House’s continued pursuit of policies that increase steel demand as of primary importance.

“And I think if that’s done, we could see us remaining in third place next year, very easily,” he said.

AISI

Likewise, Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), called the achievement definitely a “trend.”

“If you look at the data, Japan has been declining in recent years, while the US has been stable to growing,” he told SMU. “I think we’re going to see continued growth in the US.”

He also spoke on the new Section 232 steel tariffs from this administration. Keeping them in place will prevent a surge of “dumped and subsidized imports into the region.”

“That gives us a chance for the US industry to continue to grow,” he said. “And I think, we’re well-positioned to do that.”

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.