Americas crude steel output declined in 2016

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): According to the recent data published by the World Steel Association, the crude steel production by North America remained more or less flat during the entire year 2016. The South American production declined considerably during the year. The monthly production statistics indicate that the output jumped higher in North American region, whereas it continued to decline in South America.

The crude steel production by South American countries dropped significantly during the month of December last year. The total monthly output declined by 11.3% to 2.899 Million tonnes (Mt). On the other hand, the North American crude steel output jumped higher by nearly 10% to 9.409 Mt.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during December was 313,000 tonnes, down considerably by 15.9% than the December 2015 production of 372,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.149 Million tonnes of crude steel, lower by 12.7% when compared to 2.462 Million tonnes production achieved during December 2015. The output by Chile declined marginally by 1.4% to 95,000 tonnes in December last year. The total crude steel production by Colombia soared higher by 95% to 110,000 tonnes in December 2016.

Ecuador’s crude steel output dropped significantly by nearly 12% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 50,000 tonnes in December last year, down when compared with 57,000 tonnes during December 2015.  Paraguay’s crude steel output tumbled by 44% from 5,000 tonnes to 3,000 tonnes over the previous year.

The crude steel output by Peru increased modestly by 10.7% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay dropped significantly by nearly 55% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production too dropped considerably by nearly 40% year-on-year from 116,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output by the South American region for the whole year of 2016 in comparison with the year before that.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes

Meantime, the crude steel production by North American countries surged higher by 9.9% during the month of December year-on-year. The production totaled 9.409 Mt in December last year as against 8.560 Mt recorded in December ‘15.

The total crude steel production by Canada during December 2016 was 1.030 Mt, declining marginally by 3.7% when compared with the December 2015 production. The US produced 6.619 Million tonnes of crude steel, higher by 11% when compared to 5.964 Million tonnes production achieved during December 2015. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged higher by nearly one-fourth from 1.374 Mt in December ‘15 to 1.705 Mt in December last year.

The Cuban crude steel production decreased sharply by 34.3% year-on-year to 20,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 10,000 tonnes in December last year, down sharply when compared with December last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in December, lower by 42.2% when matched with the production during the same month a year before. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero in December 2016 from 65,000 tonnes during same month a year before.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the entire year 2016 in comparison with those during 2015.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes