Italian crude steel output fell by 11.5% year-on-year in 2022 to 21.6 million tonnes, and by 15.6% on-year to 1.2mt in December, according to data issued by local steelmakers association Federacciai.
Italian flat steel production tumbled by 17.6% to 642,000t last month, and by 13.8% in 2022 to 9.5mt. Longs output also fell by 22.4% to 660,000t in December, and by 12% to 12mt in the full year, Kallanish notes.
Sources in the industry believe the decline is due to the several longs plant stoppages in the second part of last year, with the objective of balancing supply and demand amid the general steel demand downturn. Italy’s largest steelmaker, Acciaierie d’Italia, also produced at heavily reduced capacity last year, with over 3,000 workers being temporarily laid off.
Crude steel output in 2021 rose by 19.8% on-year to 24.4mt and fell in 2020, the year of the pandemic, by 12.1% to 20mt, Federacciai says.
Natalia Capra France
