India’s Crude Steel Output Rises 5.6% in January–September 2026 Amid Global Decline

India’s crude steel production increased by 5.6 per cent year-on-year to reach 130 million tonnes (mt) during the January-September period of 2026. This growth stands in contrast to global production trends, which saw total output decline by 0.7 per cent to 1.368 billion tonnes over the same timeframe, according to data released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel).

As the world's second-largest steel producer, India recorded a 1.9 per cent increase in output during September alone, producing 13.9 mt compared to the same month in the previous year. Globally, crude steel production across 70 reporting countries totaled 142.4 mt in September, marking a 0.2 per cent decrease year-on-year. These reporting countries represented approximately 98 per cent of total global crude steel production in 2025.

China, the world's largest steel producer, saw a marginal 0.1 per cent increase in September output to 73.6 mt. However, its cumulative production for the first nine months of the year fell 2.9 per cent to 724.8 mt.

Performance across other major steel-producing nations varied. The United States reported a 4.3 per cent increase in September production to 7.2 mt, with its nine-month output rising 5.8 per cent to 64.9 mt. Russia registered a 6.2 per cent increase in September output to 5.5 mt, while Japan experienced a 0.6 per cent decline to 6.3 mt. South Korea's production rose 3.6 per cent year-on-year to 5.2 mt.

Among European and Asian economies, Germany recorded a 13 per cent decline in September output to 2.6 mt. Conversely, Vietnam experienced a notable surge, with production jumping 29.1 per cent to 2.6 mt for the month.

On a regional basis, Asia and Oceania—which account for the majority of global production—recorded a 0.7 per cent increase in September output to 104 mt. However, cumulative production for the region declined by 0.9 per cent to 1.01 billion tonnes during the January-September period. The European Union saw its crude steel production fall 5 per cent year-on-year to 10.1 mt in September, while the Middle East experienced a significant drop of 20.4 per cent to 3.6 mt.

Meanwhile, North America recorded a 3.4 per cent increase to 9.3 mt in September, bringing its nine-month output up 4.7 per cent to 84.7 mt. Africa's production rose 10.6 per cent to 2.2 mt in September, with a cumulative rise of 9.7 per cent to 19 mt for the first nine months of the year. The Middle East saw a 9.2 per cent decline to 36.9 mt over the January-September period.

"India's consistent growth in crude steel production, even amidst a contraction in global output, highlights the resilience of the domestic industrial and manufacturing sectors. For businesses and entrepreneurs operating in infrastructure and heavy industries, this steady upward trajectory signals robust local demand and reliable supply foundations. Monitoring these macroeconomic indicators is essential for understanding broader capital allocation and industrial growth trends in the Indian economy." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes