text: Production of crude steel has risen at an astounding rate, reaching 1.691 billion tonnes by 2017
  During the 20th century, the consumption of steel increased at an average annual rate of 3.3%. In 1900, the United States was producing 37% of the world's steel, but with post war industrial development in Asia and centralised investment by China, by 2017 China alone accounted for 50%, with Europe (including the former Soviet Union) down to 24% and North America down to 6%.
  For details of country-wise steel production see steel production by country.