China’s steel production fell sharply in October 2025, with crude steel output dropping by 12% year-on-year to 72 million tons. This decline is part of a broader trend of reduced production across the industry, reflecting a combination of factors including soft domestic demand, excess capacity, and low margins. The government’s signals about the need for production discipline have also contributed to the cautious approach of steel mills. The year-to-date production figure for January-October of 2025 stands at 818 million tons, which is a 4% year-on-year decrease. This situation is indicative of a prolonged slowdown in the steel sector, with experts suggesting that 2024 may be the last year when steel production in China exceeded 1 billion tons.