World crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 137 million tonnes in October 2014, more or less the same as in October 2013. The 65 countries account for around 98 per cent of total crude steel production in the world.China’s crude steel production was 67.5 million tonnes during the month, a slight decrease of 0.3 per cent compared to October 2013. Japan produced 9.4 million tonnes of crude steel (-1.7 per cent) and South Korea 6.2 million tonnes (+4.5 per cent). In the EU, Germany produced 3.5 million tonnes of crude steel (-5.9 per cent), Italy 2.1 million tonnes (-.5.4 per cent) and France 1.5 million tonnes (+15 per cent). USA produced 7.3 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2014, a decrease of 0.7 per cent. Brazil’s crude steel production was 3.1 million tonnes (+2.7 per cent). Turkey’s crude steel production was 11 per cent down to 2.7 million tonnes.
The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio for the 65 countries was 74.7 per cent in October 2014; 2.6 percentage points lower than in October 2013 and 1.4 percentage points than in September.
Total crude steel production during the first ten months of the calendar year 2014 has been assessed at 1,367 million tonnes, showing 2 per cent increase over a similar period of 2013. Crude steel production in India increased by 2.5 per cent to 69.5 million tonnes, whereas the same in China, which produces around a half of crude steel in the world increased by 2.1 per cent to 685.3 million tonnes.
The World Steel Association (worldsteel) represents approximately 170 steel producers (including nine of the world’s 10 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes.
