According to the latest report issued by World Steel on crude steel production, Arab countries’ crude steel production reached 3.5 million tons in May, a 5.0% increase compared to May 2024.
Egypt topped Arab steel production in May, with 810,000 tons, a decline of -9.5%. Saudi Arabia came in second place with 780,000 tons, a 5.1% increase. Algeria came in third place with 450,000 tons, a 28.6% increase compared to May 2024.
In the period January-May 2025, Arab countries’ crude steel production increased by 2.1% to 17.4 million tons.
Crude steel production in the Gulf area declined by -0.7% during the January-May period of this year, reaching 8.3 million tons, representing approximately 48% of the Arab region’s steel production.
Meanwhile, North Africa’s production increased by 5.8% to 7.6 million tons, accounting for 44% of Arab steel production, thanks to a 28.6% increase in crude steel production in Algeria during the same period.
The Eastern Mediterranean region’s production remained stable at 1.4 million tons, accounting for 8% of Arab steel production.
Gulf Area
| Country | May 2025 (000t) | % change May 25/24 | Jan-May 2025 (000t) |
% change 25/24 |
| Saudi Arabia | 780 | 5.1% | 3,920 | -6.5% |
| UAE | 357 | 21.8% | 1,551 | 0.3% |
| Oman | 250 | -3.8% | 1,270 | 1.6% |
| Bahrain | 100 | -4.8% | 510 | 2.0% |
| Qatar | 145 | 46.6% | 639 | 27.5% |
| Kuwait | 90 | 0.0% | 468 | 9.3% |
| Total | 1,722 | 8.4% | 8,358 | -0.7% |
North Africa
| Country | May 2025 (000t) | % change May 25/24 | Jan-May 2025 (000t) |
% change 25/24 |
| Egypt | 810 | -9.5% | 4,253 | -5.1% |
| Algeria | 450 | 28.6% | 2,300 | 27.8% |
| Morocco | 130 | 13.0% | 620 | 6.0% |
| Libya | 109 | 9.2% | 472 | 30.3% |
| Tunisia | 5 | 35.1% | 27 | 7.1% |
| Total | 1,504 | 2.8% | 7,672 | 5.8% |
Eastern Mediterranean
| Country | May 2025 (000t) | % change May 25/24 | Jan-May 2025 (000t) |
% change 25/24 |
| Iraq | 250 | -2.0% | 1,255 | 0.8% |
| Jordan | 25 | 0.0% | 125 | 0.0% |
| Yemen | 7 | -22.2% | 43 | -2.3% |
| Total | 282 | -2.4% | 1,423 | 0.6% |
Arab Countries
| May 2025 (000t) | % change May 25/24 | Jan-May 2025 (000t) |
% change 25/24 | |
| Total Arab countries | 3,507 | 5.0% | 17,453 | 2.1% |
