Exclusive France reduced steel production by 13.6% m/m in November

Over 11 months, French steelmakers reduced the indicator by 9.8% y/y

In November 2025, French steel enterprises reduced steel production by 13.6% compared to the previous month, to 810 thousand tons. Compared to the same month last year, the figure decreased by 15.8%. Thus, the country ranks 19th in the WorldSteel Association’s global ranking of steel-producing countries (70).

French steel producers managed to increase output in October to almost the annual maximum of 937,000 tons, despite a fire at the ArcelorMittal site in Fos-sur-Mer, which led to the shutdown of blast furnace No. 2 at the beginning of the month. At the same time, the consequences of the incident at one of the country’s largest steel mills were fully reflected in November’s production figures. The company announced that the plant would resume operations on December 21, which creates the conditions for stabilizing output at the end of the year.

During January-November, the industry produced 9.02 million tons of steel, which is 9.8% less than in January-November last year. Average monthly steel production fell to 820,200 tons compared to 909,000 tons a year earlier.

In general, EU steel companies reduced steel production by 3.5% y/y in November 2025 – to 10.2 million tons, and by 3.3% y/y in January-November – to 116.1 million tons.

It should be recalled that at the end of 2024, French steel companies increased steel production by 7.6% compared to 2023, to 10.76 million tons. The indicator recovered after a significant drop of 17.5% in 2023.

Average monthly steel production in 2024 was 896,250 tons, while in 2023 it was 833,000 tons, and in 2022 it was 1.01 million tons.

There are 11 steel enterprises in France, including ArcelorMittal Dunkerque (2.25 million tons of steel per year), Saarstahl Ascoval Saint-Saulve (730 thousand tons per year), LME Trith-Saint-Léger (820 thousand tons per year), Ascometal Hagondange (825,000 tons/year), Riva Sam Neuves-Maisons (850,000 tons/year), Riva Sam Montereau (720,000 tons/year), Riva Alpa Gargenville (700,000 tons/year), Riva Iton Seine Bonnieres Sur Seine (550,000 tons/year), Celsa France Boucau (1.2 million tons/year), ArcelorMittal Méditerranée Fos sur Mer (2.55 million tons/year), Ascometal Fos Sur Mer (900,000 tons/year). The total capacity of steel production plants reaches 12.09 million tons per year.