Asia, Africa and the Middle East regions report notable jump in crude steel output

BEIJING (Scrap Monster): The monthly statistics released by the World Steel Association suggests significant jump in crude steel output by Asia, Africa and Middle East regions during the month of February this year. The output by the African region surged higher by 18.2% over the previous year. The production by the Middle East and Asian regions were up by 5.7% and 5.1% respectively, when matched with the previous year.

Asia

The total crude steel production by China during February this year was 61.187 Million tonnes, marginally higher by 4.6% when compared with the production of 58.469 Mt during February 2016. India produced 8.113 Million tonnes of crude steel, considerably up by 8.9% when compared to 7.451 Million tonnes production achieved during Feb ’16. Japan reported marginal decline of 0.1% in monthly crude steel output during February. Japan's crude steel output dropped from 8.345 Million tonnes in Feb ‘16 to 8.340 Million tonnes in the same month this year. South Korean crude steel production edged higher by 8.3%. Pakistan and Thailand reported 18.8% and 11.3% decline in production respectively. Taiwan’s crude steel output climbed higher by 3.5% over the year.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the initial two-month period of the current year in comparison with the previous year.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes

Africa

Egypt produced 507,000 tonnes of crude steel, rising significantly by 46.8% when compared to 346,000 tonnes production achieved during Feb ‘16. Libya’s crude steel output dropped to 41,000 tonnes during the month of February 2017, when matched with 52,000 tonnes produced during the same month a year before. Morocco’s output inched lower by 0.2%. South African crude steel output increased marginally by 3.6% to total 496,000 tonnes during the month.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the first two months in 2017 in comparison with the corresponding period in 2016.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes 

Middle East

The total crude steel production by Iran during February 2017 was 1.375 Million tonnes, slightly higher by 1.1% in comparison with the Feb ’16 production of 1.360 Million tonnes. Qatar produced 223,000 tonnes of crude steel, higher by 8.3% when compared to 206,000 tonnes production achieved during February last year. Meantime, Saudi Arabia’s crude steel output increased sharply by 19.3% over the previous year. The total crude steel production by the UAE during Feb ’17 was 274,000 tonnes, higher by 7.2% in comparison with the Feb ’16 production of 255,000 tonnes. 

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output during Jan-Feb ’17 as compared with the corresponding two-month period in 2016.

  (Note: Output in thousands of tonnes)