World Steel Recycling in Figures: January-March 2026 update

Global crude steel production totalled 459.8 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2026 for a decrease of 2.1% over the same period last year, according to worldsteel data covering 69 countries. Higher crude steel production was recorded in Africa, Other Europe and North America whereas decreases were registered in Asia/Oceania, the EU-27, the Middle East and South America, as well as in Russia & other CIS plus Ukraine.

Despite a 2.1% year-on-year reduction, the largest crude steel-producing region remained Asia/Oceania on 342.1 million tonnes. Elsewhere, production totals and percentage changes in relation to the first three months of 2025 were as follows: Africa (+7.8% to 6.3 million tonnes); the EU-27 (-2.4% to 31.8 million tonnes); Other Europe (+4.3% to 11.0 million tonnes); the Middle East (-7.0% to 12.3 million tonnes); North America (+2.4% to 27.5 million tonnes); South America (-2.2% to 10.1 million tonnes); and Russia & other CIS plus Ukraine (-10.9% to 18.6 million tonnes).

Direct reduced iron output increases 2.6%

World direct reduced iron (DRI) production among the 12 reporting countries reached 28.5 million tonnes in January-March 2026 for an increase of 2.6% over the same period last year.

India remained by far the largest DRI producer in this group, with output climbing 10.5% year on year to 15.8 million tonnes. Mexico also posted a solid increase of 9.4% to 1.7 million tonnes while Egypt’s production was virtually unchanged at 1.8 million tonnes.

By contrast, lower DRI production was recorded in Iran (-13.6% to 4.0 million tonnes), Saudi Arabia (-6.9% to 1.4 million tonnes), Canada (-5.9% to 0.4 million tonnes), Russia (-1.5% to 2.1 million tonnes) and Qatar (-30.3% to 0.4 million tonnes).

Recycled steel use developments mostly positive

Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the same period in 2025, China retained its position as the world’s largest consumer of recycled steel although its usage fell 12.1% year on year to 50.64 million tonnes. This decrease was steeper than the country’s 4.6% reduction in crude steel production to 247.38 million tonnes.

The EU-27 recorded a recycled steel consumption drop of 5.7% to 18.07 million tonnes as compared to the aforementioned 2.4% decline in its crude steel production, while the USA recorded growth both in its recycled steel consumption (+11.3% to 14.7 million tonnes) and in its crude steel production (+5.7% to 20.98 million tonnes).

In January-March 2026, India delivered the strongest positive performance among the markets for which recycled steel consumption data are currently available: the country’s recycled steel usage jumped 22.6% year on year to 11.40 million tonnes while crude steel production rose 11.2% to 44.85 million tonnes.

Elsewhere, Japan’s recycled steel consumption increased by 1.0% to 7.475 million tonnes in this year’s first quarter while its crude steel production declined by 1.7% to 20.049 million tonnes. Turkey recorded growth in recycled steel usage (+1.9% to 8.255 million tonnes) and in crude steel production (+5.3% to 9.746 million tonnes) while South Korea saw gains of 7.2% in recycled steel consumption to 5.201 million tonnes and of 1.8% in crude steel production to 15.8 million tonnes.

Turkey remains foremost recycled steel importer

Turkey retained its position as the world’s leading recycled steel importer in the first quarter of 2026. Its overseas purchases edged 0.6% higher year on year to 4.746 million tonnes, with leading suppliers being: the USA (+26.4% to 0.981 million tonnes); the Netherlands (-30.0% to 0.590 million tonnes); the UK (+5.7% to 0.484 million tonnes); Romania (+67.7% to 0.379 million tonnes); Denmark (+15.3% to 0.324 million tonnes); Lithuania (+43.8% to 0.299 million tonnes); Belgium (-37.1% to 0.258 million tonnes); Russia (-9.9% to 0.164 million tonnes); France (+12.7% to 0.160 million tonnes); and Germany (+5.0% to 0.127 million tonnes).

India’s recycled steel imports slumped 46% year on year in January-March 2026 to 1.240 million tonnes. Despite this decline, India remained one of the world’s major recycled steel importers with key suppliers including the UK, the USA, Brazil, Australia and Poland; however, all major named suppliers except Brazil recorded year-on-year decreases in their deliveries to India.

Also in this year’s opening quarter, higher recycled steel imports were recorded by the USA (+10.6% to 1.227 million tonnes), the EU-27 (+7.1% to 1.191 million tonnes), Vietnam (+7.0% to 1.051 million tonnes), Pakistan (+12.6% to 0.703 million tonnes), Thailand (+26.2% to 0.609 million tonnes) and Mexico (+41.1% to 0.553 million tonnes). By contrast, South Korea’s imports fell 22.7% to 0.389 million tonnes.

EU-27 remains top recycled steel exporter

The EU-27 maintained its position as the world’s largest recycled steel exporter in the first quarter of 2026, although its overseas shipments fell 11.3% year on year to 4.092 million tonnes. The main buyers were Turkey (-15.8% to 2.650 million tonnes), Egypt (+42.9% to 0.503 million tonnes), India (-20.2% to 0.200 million tonnes) and the USA (-12.2% to 0.192 million tonnes).

The USA remained the world’s second-largest recycled steel exporter, with shipments unchanged year on year at 2.930 million tonnes. Its main customers were Turkey (+14.5% to 1.031 million tonnes), Mexico (+68.4% to 0.570 million tonnes), India (-56.2% to 0.165 million tonnes) and Bangladesh (-64.4% to 0.094 million tonnes).

Japan’s recycled steel exports declined 9.8% to 1.683 million tonnes when comparing the first quarter of 2026 with that of 2025. Its main buyers were Vietnam (-9.0% to 0.763 million tonnes), Bangladesh (+13.6% to 0.311 million tonnes), South Korea (-18.4% to 0.288 million tonnes) and Taiwan (-69.8% to 0.043 million tonnes).

The UK’s overseas shipments fell 7.7% year on year to 1.503 million tonnes, with Turkey (-0.5% to 0.471 million tonnes), Egypt (+20.8% to 0.362 million tonnes), India (-24.7% to 0.184 million tonnes) and Pakistan (-48.7% to 0.121 million tonnes) emerging as principal buyers.

Among other key exporters, Canada increased its outbound shipments by 24.2% to 1.172 million tonnes, driven mainly by exports to the USA (+19.3% to 0.923 million tonnes). Singapore recorded the strongest percentage growth among the listed exporters, with shipments rising 83.1% to 0.415 million tonnes. An export increase was also registered by Hong Kong (+9.8% to 0.293 million tonnes) whereas Australia (-2.7% to 0.537 million tonnes) and Mexico (-33.3% to 0.236 million tonnes) recorded declines.

Export prices followed a broadly similar trend for both the EU and the USA throughout the first quarter of 2026.