World crude steel production for the 71 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 135.7 million tonnes (Mt) in December 2023, a 5.3% decrease compared to December 2022.
Africa produced 1.9 Mt in December 2023, up 17.7% on December 2022. Asia and Oceania produced 96.4 Mt, down 9.7%.
The EU (27) produced 9.1 Mt, up 2.7%. Europe, Other produced 3.9 Mt, up 19.4%. The Middle East produced 4.9 Mt, up 9.6%.
North America produced 9.3 Mt, up 5.3%. Russia & other CIS + Ukraine produced 7.1 Mt, up 11.8%. South America produced 3.2 Mt, down 3.2%.
Crude steel production by region
| Area | Dec 2023 (Mt) | % change Dec 23/22 | Jan-Dec 2023 (Mt) |
% change 23/22 |
| Africa | 1.9 | 17.7 | 22.0 | 5.7 |
| Asia and Oceania | 96.4 | -9.7 | 1,367.2 | 0.7 |
| EU (27) | 9.1 | 2.7 | 126.3 | -7.4 |
| Europe, Other | 3.9 | 19.4 | 41.7 | -4.6 |
| Middle East | 4.9 | 9.6 | 53.2 | 1.3 |
| North America | 9.3 | 5.3 | 109.6 | -1.7 |
| CIS | 7.1 | 11.8 | 88.1 | 4.5 |
| South America | 3.2 | -3.2 | 41.5 | -5.7 |
| Total | 135.7 | -5.3 | 1,849.7 | -0.1 |
At the level of Arab countries, Egypt topped the Arab countries’ production in December 2023, producing 941 thousand tons, an increase of 22.5%. Followed by Saudi Arabia, with a production of 889 thousand tons, an increase of 4.6%. Algeria came in third place, producing 380,000 tons, an increase of 7.3%.
Egypt ranked 18th in the world with a production of 10.4 million tons, two places ahead of last year. Saudi Arabia ranked 20th in the world with a production of 9.9 million tons, Algeria ranked 35th in the world with a production of 4.4 million tons, and the UAE ranked 40th in the world with a production of 3.2 million tons.
At the level of the Arab countries’ total production in 2023, it increased by 2.2%, with a production of 39.2 million tons, compared to the production in 2022, which amounted to 38.4 million tons.
Arab countries’ production of crude steel
| Coubtry | Dec 2023 (Mt) | % change Dec 23/22 | Jan-Dec 2023 (Mt) |
% change 23/22 |
| Egypt | 941 | 22.5% | 10,354 | 5.4% |
| Algeria | 380 | 7.3% | 4,421 | 2.8% |
| Morocco | 115 | -8.0% | 1,397 | -9.9% |
| Tunisia | 5 | -18.0% | 70 | -7.3% |
| Libya | 99 | 24.1% | 902 | 31.2% |
| Saudi Arabia | 899 | 4.6% | 9,940 | 0.8% |
| UAE | 315 | 15.0% | 3,235 | 0.8% |
| Oman | 220 | 31.7% | 2,420 | 21.0% |
| Qatar | 105 | 7.2% | 1,146 | 6.0% |
| Bahrain | 95 | 0.0% | 1,186 | 1.4% |
| Kuwait | 85 | 9.0% | 1,000 | 11.1% |
| Jordan | 25 | -13.8% | 300 | -14.3% |
| Iraq | 240 | -11.1% | 2,755 | -16.5% |
| Yemen | 8 | 60.0% | 100 | 66.7% |
| Total | 3,533 | 10.1% | 39,227 | 2.2% |
