Global steel output in May up by 16.5% on year: worldsteel

Global crude steel production went up in May by 16.5% year on year to 174.4 million metric tons (mt), marking a continuing recovery by the sector from the impact of COVID-19, the World Steel Association reported June 22.

The rise in production was triggered again by China, the world’s top producer and consumer of steel, registering an output increase of 6.6% on year to 99.5 million mt in May.

Top 10 steelmaking nations

Following China’ substantial lead, India was the next biggest May producer at 9.2 million mt, up 46.9%. Japan produced 8.4 million mt, up 42.2%. The US produced 7.2 million mt, up 47.6%.

Russia is estimated to have produced 6.6 million mt, up 14%. South Korea is estimated to have produced 6 million mt, up 10.5%. Germany produced 3.5 million mt in May, up 35.5%.

Turkey produced 3.2 million mt, up 42.4%. Brazil produced 3.2 million mt, up 40.1%, and Iran is estimated to have produced 2.6 million mt, up 7.7%, worldsteel said.

Blast furnace iron

Iron produced in blast furnaces amounted to 117.22 million mt in May, up by 7.6% from May 2020. In January-May, this amounted to 570.67 million mt, up from the 531.4 million mt registered during the same period a year ago.

Direct reduced iron output in May was 8.65 million mt, up from 7.27 million mt registered in May 2020. In January-May, DRI output was 42.85 million mt, up from 36.84 million mt a year ago, worldsteel reported.

— Annalisa Villa