In November of this year, Ukrainian metallurgical companies increased steel production by 18.5% compared to the same period last year, from 541,000 tons to 641,000 tons, but decreased by 1.1% compared to the previous month (648,000 tons).
In the ranking of global producers of this product, compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Ukraine ranked 20th among 70 countries.
According to Worldsteel, in November 2025, there was a decrease in steel production compared to November 2024 in half of the top ten countries, except for India, the US, Turkey, Iran, and Brazil.
The top ten steel-producing countries in November were as follows: China – 69.870 million tons (down 10.9% from November 2024), India – 13.713 million tons (up 10.8%), the US – 6.8 million tons (+8.5%), Japan – 6.774 million tons (-1.6%), Russia – 5.190 million tons (-6.6%), South Korea – 4.965 million tons (-4.8%), Iran – 3.356 million tons (+9.2%), Turkey – 3.312 million tons (+10%), Germany – 2.841 million tons (-2.6%), and Brazil – 2.8 million tons (+0.7%).
Overall, steel production in November this year decreased by 4.6% compared to the same period last year, to 140.130 million tons.
Based on the results of the first 11 months of this year, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China – 891.670 million tons (-4% compared to January-November 2024), India – 150.062 million tons (+10.3%), the US – 75.103 million tons (+3.2%), Japan – 74.102 million tons (-3.9%), Russia – 61.774 million tons (-5%), South Korea – 56.109 million tons (-3.7%), Turkey – 34.589 million tons (+2%), Germany – 31.346 million tons (-9.3%), Brazil – 30.788 million tons (-1.5%), and Iran – 28.798 million tons (+0.1%).
Over the first 11 months of this year, Ukrainian steel companies reduced steel production by 3.1% compared to the same period last year, from 7.028 million tons to 6.813 million tons. The country ranked 21st.
Overall, global steel production in January-November 2025 decreased by 2% compared to the same period in 2024, to 1 billion 662.222 million tons.
As reported, at the end of 2024, the top ten steel-producing countries among 71 countries were as follows: China – 1 billion 5.090 million tons (-1.7%), India – 149.587 million tons (+6.3%), Japan – 84.009 million tons (-3.4%), the US – 79.452 million tons (-2.4%), Russia – 70.690 million tons (-7%), South Korea – 63.531 million tons (-4.7%), Germany – 37.234 million tons (+5.2%), Turkey – 36.893 million tons (+9.4%), Brazil – 33.741 million tons (+5.3%), and Iran – 30.952 million tons (+0.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 839.449 million tons of steel last year, which is 0.9% less than in 2023.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 7.575 million tons of steel in 2024, which is 21.6% higher than in 2023 (6.228 million tons). The country ranked 20th in 2024.
In 2023, China produced 1 billion 19.080 million tons (at the level of the previous year), India – 140.171 million tons (+11.8%), Japan – 86.996 million tons (-2.5%), the US – 80.664 million tons (+0.2%), Russia – 75.8 million tons (+5.6%), South Korea – 66.676 million tons (+1.3%), Germany – 35.438 million tons (-3.9%), Turkey – 33.714 million tons (-4%), Brazil – 31.869 million tons (-6.5%), and Iran – 31.139 million tons (+1.8%). In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 849.734 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.1% less than in 2022.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% less than in 2022. The country ranked 22nd in 2023.
At the end of 2022, the top ten steel-producing countries were as follows: China – 1.013 billion tons (-2.1%), India – 124.720 million tons (+5.5%), Japan – 89.235 million tons (-7.4%), the US – 80.715 million tons (-5.9%), Russia – 71.5 million tons (-7.2%), South Korea – 65.865 million tons (-6.5%), Germany – 36.849 million tons (-8.4%), Turkey – 35.134 million tons (-12.9%), Brazil – 33.972 million tons (-5.8%), and Iran – 30.593 million tons (+8%).
Ukraine ranked 23rd in 2022 with 6.263 million tons of steel (-70.7%).
In total, 64 countries produced 1 billion 831.467 million tons of steel in 2022, which is 4.3% less than in 2021.
Earlier, the Experts Club analytical center released a video analysis of the world’s leading steel producers from 2001 to 2024 – https://youtube.com/shorts/VgUU9MEMosE?si=c5yD04gmNtJoFblB
Agricultural production in Ukraine fell by 6.6% in January-November 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the State Statistics Service.
Thus, according to the results of 11 months of this year, the agricultural production index was 93.4% compared to January-November last year. In particular, the indicator for crop production reached 92.7%, and for livestock production – 96.2%.
Agricultural enterprises suffered slightly greater losses, with production at 93.2% of last year’s level. At the same time, the indicator for crop production reached 92.0%, and for livestock production – 100%. At the same time, the indicator for private farms was 93.7%. For crop production, it was 99.8%, and for livestock production, 90.4%.
The largest decline in production was recorded in the Donetsk region, where this index was 57.4% of last year’s level. There was also a significant decline in the Kherson (70.1%) and Dnipropetrovsk (79.3%) regions.
At the same time, two regions showed positive dynamics: in the Chernihiv region, the agricultural production index rose to 102.2%, and in the Vinnytsia region, to 101.6%.
The Dnipro-based Sol Union group of companies has begun construction of the Neo Food System factory in the Kyiv region. The project capacity of the enterprise will allow it to produce 60,000 ready-made meals per day. The factory will produce ready-to-eat chilled, pasteurized, sterilized, and deep-frozen meals. The group’s investment in this project amounts to UAH 220 million.
This was announced by Dmytro Kysilevsky, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development. He noted that Sol Union took advantage of several programs of the “Made in Ukraine” policy for the development of Ukrainian manufacturers to implement its current investment projects. In particular, the group took advantage of a state grant of UAH 8 million for processing, purchasing autoclaves manufactured by the Rozfood plant in Kyiv. In addition, the group attracted loans from the “5-7-9” program. It plans to further expand its loan portfolio.
The launch of the plant will create 260 new jobs in the Kyiv region. The production area is 4,000 square meters.
To implement the Neo Food System factory project, the group purchased a ready-made industrial premises that already has the necessary connected electricity, water supply, treatment facilities, and drainage. The installation of the enterprise’s equipment will begin in April 2026. The launch of production is scheduled for June, and the project is expected to reach its design capacity in September 2026. The first exports to EU countries are planned for 2027.
The Sol Union group of companies includes two food production and packaging factories, a vegetable storage facility with a capacity of 5,000 tons, and warehouses with a total area of 17,000 square meters. Until now, all of the group’s enterprises were located in Dnipro.
The “Made in Ukraine” development policy for Ukrainian manufacturers combines state programs aimed at developing production, attracting investment, and stimulating exports.
FACTORY, FOOD, Kysilevsky, PRODUCTION, semi-finished product
Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises increased pig iron production by 10.2% in January-November this year compared to the same period last year, reaching 7.188 million tons.
According to the Ukrmetallurgprom association, 704,300 tons of pig iron were produced in November, which is an increase compared to October.
According to preliminary data, Ukrainian metallurgical companies increased their total rolled steel production by 3.9% in January-November this year compared to the same period last year, from 5.741 million tons to 5.966 million tons.
According to information from the Ukrmetallurgprom association on Monday, steel production during this period fell by 3.1% to 6.813 million tons. In November, 589,100 tons of rolled steel and 641,100 tons of steel were produced.
For more information on the largest steel producers and global industry trends, see the Experts Club video analysis review available on YouTube: Experts Club — Leaders of the global steel industry 1990–2024
The Kametstal plant, part of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group (Kamensk, Dnipropetrovsk region), has completed the reconstruction of continuous casting machine No. 1 in the converter shop as part of its 2025 investment program.
According to the company, following the successful completion of the second stage of the investment project, key equipment of the machine’s pulling and straightening devices has been upgraded.
It is specified that new motor reducers for the pulling and straightening device were installed on each of the seven streams of the CCMC-1, on which thermal shielding was also performed.
“In this way, steelmakers have solved the urgent issue of extending the service life of motor reducers, which ensure the stable movement of the pulling and straightening devices. Previously, this equipment failed prematurely due to the destructive effects of high temperatures,” the report states.
Encoders were also installed and put into operation on all upper motors of the gear motors. These devices, thanks to feedback in control, make it possible to control and stabilize the speed of the continuously cast billet and, thus, increase the accuracy of its cutting.
The second stage of the reconstruction of the No. 1 continuous casting machine was carried out without additional machine stoppages, given the need to fulfill orders for commercial steel products, particularly those of higher quality, for domestic and European customers. Each stream was technically prepared in advance for the replacement of equipment, and during the technological stoppage, updates were carried out in pit stop mode.
As a result of the second stage of reconstruction, metallurgists received a number of technical and economic advantages: several times longer service life of the motor reducers of the stoves; maximum precision of cutting the billets, which made it possible to reduce metal consumption. In addition, the technical solutions implemented optimized the operation of the pulling and straightening device to reduce electricity consumption on the upper and lower motor reducers by 1.2 kW*hour while maintaining stable casting on the machine.
Kametstal is part of the Metinvest Group.
