MHW Magazine News and stories from the Materials Handling Industry
World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 137 million tonnes (Mt) in March 2016, a -0.5% decrease compared to March 2015.
World crude steel production was 385.7 Mt in the first three months of 2016, down by -3.6% compared to the same period in 2015. Asia produced 263.6 Mt of crude steel, a decrease of -3.1% over the first quarter of 2015. The EU produced 40.9 Mt of crude steel in the first quarter of 2016, down by -7.0% compared to the same quarter of 2015. North America’s crude steel production in the first three months of 2016 was 27.5 Mt, a decrease of -1.1% compared to the first quarter of 2015. The C.I.S. produced 25.0 Mt of crude steel in the first three months of 2016, a decrease of -0.4% over the same months of 2015.
China’s crude steel production for March 2016 was 70.7 Mt, an increase of 2.9% compared to March 2015. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.6 Mt of crude steel in March 2016, a decrease of -6.8% compared to March 2015. India’s crude steel production was 8.1 Mt in March 2016, up by 3.4% on March 2015.
In the EU, Germany produced 3.8 Mt of crude steel in March 2016, a decrease of -1.6% compared to March 2015. Italy produced 2.0 Mt of crude steel, down by -3.5% on March 2015. France produced 1.1 Mt of crude steel, down by -21.4% compared to March 2015.
Turkey’s crude steel production for March 2016 was 2.7 Mt, up by 1.3% on March 2015.
In March 2016, Russia produced 6.0 Mt of crude steel, down by -2.0% over March 2015. Ukraine produced 2.2 Mt of crude steel, up by 28.1% compared to the same month in 2015.
The US produced 6.7 Mt of crude steel in March 2016, an increase of 4.9% compared to March 2015.
Brazil’s crude steel production for March 2016 was 2.5 Mt, down by -9.5% on March 2015.
The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 66 countries in March 2016 was 70.5%. This is -1.3 percentage points lower than March 2015. Compared to February 2016, it is 3.9 percentage points higher.
FYI
• The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. worldsteel members represent approximately 85% of the world’s steel production, including over 150 steel producers with 9 of the 10 largest steel companies, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes.
• The monthly crude steel capacity utilisation ratio is calculated based on crude steel production information available at worldsteel and OECD capacity estimates.
