Crude steel production by 63 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 132 million tonnes in April 2013, an increase of 1.2 per cent compared to April 2012.China’s crude steel production for the month was 65.7 million tonnes, up by 6.8 per cent on an annual basis. Japan produced 9.2 million tonnes of crude steel, up by one per cent. South Korea’s crude steel production was 5.5 million tonnes, down by 6.3 per cent.
In the EU, Germany produced 3.7 million tonnes of crude steel in April 2013 (-0.9 per cent on a y-o-y basis), Italy 2.1 million tonnes (-11.6 per cent), Spain 1.4 million tonnes (+10.3 per cent) and France 1.2 million tonnes (-12.3 per cent). Turkey’s crude steel production was 2.9 million tonnes, a decrease of 0.7 per cent compared to April 2012.
USA produced 7.3 million tonnes of crude steel (-7.3 per cent). Russia produced 5.6 million tonnes (-4.3 per cent) and Ukraine 2.7 million tonnes (-8.4 per cent). Brazil produced 3.0 million tonnes of crude steel in April 2013, a decrease of 1.6 per cent compared to the same month last year.
The crude steel capacity utilisation for the 63 countries was assessed at 80 per cent for April, against 79.1 per cent in the preceding month, 82 per cent in the month a year ago and recent low of73.2 per cent in December last year.
|
CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION DURING JANUARY-APRIL
|
|||||
|
|
Million Tonnes
|
% Increase
|
|||
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2013
|
2012
|
|
| China | 258.15 | 238.06 | 8.4 | 3.7 | |
| Japan | 35.81 | 35.64 | 0.5 | -1.4 | |
| USA | 28.76 | 31.04 | -7.3 | 9.7 | |
| India | 26.64 | 25.66 | 3.8 | 4.6 | |
| Russia | 22.75 | 23.93 | -4.9 | 3.2 | |
| South Korea | 22.08 | 23.18 | -4.8 | 3.3 | |
| Germany | 14.38 | 14.44 | -0.5 | -5.0 | |
| Turkey | 11.36 | 11.91 | -4.6 | 11.4 | |
| Brazil | 11.31 | 11.74 | -3.6 | 1.6 | |
| Ukraine | 11.12 | 11.34 | -1.9 | -4.4 | |
| Total for above 10 countries | 442.35 | 426.94 | 3.6 | 3.3 | |
| Total for other 53 countries | 78.93 | 84.39 | -6.5 | -4.5 | |
| Total for all 63 countries | 521.28 | 511.33 | 1.9 | 1.9 | |
Production for January-April
Total world crude steel production as covered by worldsteel member countries increased by 1.9 per cent to 521 million tonnes during the first four months of the calendar year 2013, maintaining the year ago rapidity. The world’s top 10 producers could increase production by 3.6 per cent, even as the other countries had to bear a steep 6.5 per cent decline in production. China, the world’s largest steel producer, accounting for around half of global steel production, improved its output by 8.4 per cent during the period.
India, the world’s fourth largest producer, increased crude steel production by around 3.8 per cent during January-April. SAIL produced 14.27 million tonnes of hot metal in 2012-13 (+1 per cent).
World crude steel production was placed at 1,548 million tonnes during 2012, showing an increase of 1.2 per cent over the year, which is much less than 6.7 per cent in 2011. The 15 per cent increase in the earlier year 2010 reflected a bounce back from 7 per drop in the global meltdown scarred 2009.
The World Steel Association represents approximately 170 steel producers (including 16 of the world’s 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. Worldsteel members represent around 98 per cent of world crude steel production.
