Global steel output rises in March but still down from last year

World crude steel production for the 69 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) totaled an estimated 159.9 million metric tons (mt) in March. Production jumped 12.8% from a shorter February, but was down 4.0% from March 2025, according to newly released data.

On a 12-month moving average (12MMA) basis through March, annual production has averaged 148.1 million mt per month over the last year, down 2.9% from the same period a year earlier (see Figure 1). Through September 2025, annual output had generally hovered between 152 million and 154 million mt for nearly three years, similar to pre-pandemic levels. The trend has since deviated, declining over the past six months.