World crude steel output in April rose 23% on year to 169.5 million mt: worldsteel

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 169.5 million mt in April, a 23.3% increase on the yera-ago month, marking a continuing recovery by the sector from the impact of COVID-19, worldsteel reported May 21.

In April 2020, global steel production had hit a recent monthly low of 137.5 million mt as pandemic lockdowns curbed output at some steelmakers and their customers in the construction, automotive and other industries.

April 2021’s output was marginally lower than the 170.11 million mt of March, which is a longer month.

Top 10 steelmaking nations

Top producer China made 97.9 million mt of crude steel in April 2021, up 13.4% on April 2020. India produced 8.3 million mt, up 152.1%. Japan produced 7.8 million mt, up 18.9%. The US produced 6.9 million mt, up 43%.

Russia is estimated to have produced 6.5 million mt, up 15.1%. South Korea is estimated to have produced 5.9 million mt, up 15.4%. Germany produced 3.4 million mt, up 31.5%.

Turkey produced 3.3 million mt, up 46.6%. Brazil produced 3.1 million mt, up 59.3%. Iran is estimated to have produced 2.5 million mt, up 6.4%, worldsteel said.

The 64 countries included in worldsteel’s statistics produced a total of 662.8 million mt of crude steel in January-April, up 13.7% on the same period in 2020, worldsteel said. These countries accounted for approximately 98% of total world crude steel production in 2020, the association said.

Blast furnace iron

Iron produced in blast furnaces amounted to 113.41 million mt in April, up 11.2% on April 2020 levels. In January-April, this amounted to 458.15 million mt, up 8.3% from a year ago.

Direct reduced iron output in April was 6.97 million mt, up 52.8% from April 2020. In January-April, DRI output was 30.43 million mt, up 13.6% from a year ago, worldsteel reported.

— Diana Kinch