Global stainless steel production edged up 2.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, totaling 15.8 million tons, according to the World Stainless Association. 

Among them, Asia produced 13.4 million tons between January and April, up 3.3% from the same period in 2025, with China accounting for 9.84 million tons of that total, a 4.3% annual rise. The EU, however, saw output fall 4.6% year-on-year to 1.5 million tons. The United States produced 600,000 tons, up 2.3%. 

For comparison, global stainless steel production grew 2.1% in full-year 2025 to 64.2 million tons, with China at 40.87 million tons.