Day: 26 July 2021

World crude steel production rose to 167.9 million mt in June, up 12% on the year, marking a continuing recovery by the sector from the impact of COVID-19, the World Steel Association reported July 23.

The data released covers the 64 countries which report to worldsteel, and which accounted for around 98% of world crude steel production in 2020.

All regions and major producing countries recorded higher production in June from a year ago, as demand grew.

China produced well over half the June total, with an output of 93.9 million mt, up 1.5% on June 2020. The increase occurred despite the introduction of some production curbs in Tangshan by the Chinese government in a move to curb pollution.

The next biggest producing country, India, made 9.4 million mt of crude steel in June, up 21% from a year previously. Japan produced 8.1 million mt, up 44%. Output in the whole of Asia and Oceania was 122.5 million mt in June, up 6.4% from a year ago.

The US produced 7.1 million mt, also up 44% from a year previously. Russia is estimated to have produced 6.4 million mt, up 11%. South Korea produced 6 million mt, up 17%.

Germany, the EU’s biggest producer, made 3.4 million mt, up 38% on June 2020. Turkey also produced 3.4 million mt, up 18%. Brazil produced 3.1 million mt, up 45%. Iran is estimated to have produced 2.5 million mt, up 1.9%, according to worldsteel’s data.

The June output compared to an output of 174.4 million mt in May, which was a longer month.

Iron produced in blast furnaces in June amounted to 112.88 million mt, and production of direct reduced iron was 8.28 million mt, worldsteel said.

H1 output tops 1 billion mt

In first-half 2021, world production reached 1.003 billion mt of crude steel, up 14% on year.

In the January-June period, production of blast furnace iron reached 638.78 million mt, while DRI production stood at 51.13 million mt, according to the association’s data.

— Diana Kinch

Crude steel production in the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) grew 11.6% on-year in June to 167.92 million tonnes, Kallanish notes. This represented a slight slowdown in growth rate due to slowing Chinese output growth. Production was also down 4% on May.

Chinese production grew only 1.5% on-year in June to 93.88mt, while Indian output surged 21% to 9.36mt. Output in Japan and South Korea surged 44% and 17% respectively to 8.1mt and 6mt. Vietnamese output is estimated to have risen 43% to 1.97mt.

EU27 crude steel output grew 35% in June to 13.22mt, driven by 38% and 20% surges in Germany and Italy respectively to 3.4mt and 2.18mt. Output in Spain is estimated to have risen 57% to 1.3mt and French production grew 55% to 1.29mt. Finland, notably, saw output soar 94% to 386,000t.

The UK saw output at an estimated 695,000t, up 39% on-year.

Turkish production meanwhile rose 18% to 3.36mt.

US production surged 44%, rising for the fourth consecutive month, to 7.14mt, while Brazilian production surged 45% to 3.12mt.

CIS production grew 9% to 8.92mt, with Russian output estimated up 11% to 6.35mt and Ukrainian production confirmed up 3% to 1.87mt.

Global crude steel production in January-June thus grew 14.4% on-year 1.004 billion tonnes.

Adam Smith Germany