Global crude steel production up 15% on year in March: worldsteel

World crude steel production rose 15% year over year in March, with steel production in the first three months of 2021 seeing an increase in all regions except North America, according to data released by the World Steel Association April 22.

Crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to worldsteel totaled 169.2 million mt in March, an increase of 15.2% compared with March 2020. Global crude steel production stood at 486.9 million mt in the first three months of 2021, an increase of 13% compared with the first quarter of 2020, according to worldsteel.

Nearly every region saw an increase of at least 6% year over year in crude steel production for March, except for North America, where production was roughly flat at 9.7 million mt. Through March, crude steel production in North America stood at 28.1 million mt, a decrease of 5.2% compared with Q1 2020.

Asian and Oceanic countries registered a production increase of 17.6% to 123.8 million mt. Production in China—the largest global steel producer—increased 19.1% year over year in March to 94 million mt, while India—the second largest producer—registered an increase of 23.9% to 10 million mt.

Production in the 27 EU member countries increased 17.5% in March, with German steel production at 3.6 million mt, up 10.4% compared with March 2020.

— Justine Coyne