Europe's crude steel output registers significant drop in Dec '14

CANTERBURY (Scrap Monster): According to the recent data published by the World Steel Association (World steel), the crude steel production by EU-28 countries slipped considerably by 5.7% during the month of Dec ’14 year-on-year.

The highest output during December was achieved by Germany. Germany produced 3.259 Million tonnes during the month, which is lower by 5.8% when compared with the country’s output of 3.459 Million tonnes during December 2013.

The lowest output was by Croatia. The country’s crude steel output diminished to ‘zero’ when compared with the output of 19,000 tonnes recorded during Dec ’13. On a year-on-year basis, Croatia recorded the biggest decline in production.

Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the other EU-28 region recorded increased year-on-year crude steel production. Hungary recorded the highest growth in crude steel output in Dec ‘14, rising by 56.3% when matched with the previous year.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the entire year 2014 in comparison with those during 2013.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes