June global steel output up 12% on year to 168 million mt

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