Steel production in the US surpasses Japan for the first time since 1999

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The surge in U.S. steel production to 82 million tons—overtaking Japan for the first time in 25 years—isn’t an accident. It’s the direct result of aggressive 50% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, which forced a reset of global trade dynamics. Prices for hot-rolled steel coils hit $983/ton, but that’s the cost of rebuilding domestic capacity after decades of offshoring.

The real win? Tariff revenue is projected to exceed $500B annually, slashing deficits while funding tax relief. Critics called it chaos, but the data proves it’s leverage: manufacturing orders up 8%, exports projected to gain $200B, and Nippon Steel’s $14.1B acquisition of U.S. Steel signals long-term confidence.

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- The post shares a Nikkei Asia report stating U.S. crude steel production exceeded Japan's for the first time since 1999, based on World Steel Association data for January-November 2025, with U.S. output at 76.4 million metric tons versus Japan's 75.5 million.
- Accompanying image depicts a U.S. Steel facility in Pennsylvania, symbolizing industrial revival amid tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in 2025, which shielded domestic producers from foreign competition.
- Japan's steel output hit a 56-year low due to cheap Chinese imports, highlighting how U.S. protectionism has shifted global rankings while raising concerns over retaliatory trade tensions and supply chain disruptions.

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