Global Crude Steel output Records 5% Jump In April

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to the most recent monthly production statistics published by the World Steel Association (worldsteel), the crude steel output by 67 member countries totaled 142.080 million tonnes (Mt) in April this year, rising significantly by 5.0% in comparison with the production of 135.340 Mt during the same month a year before.

The capacity utilization rate of member countries was 73.6% in April. This is considerably higher by 2.5% higher than the previous year and also higher by 1.7% when matched with March 2017.

South America

The crude steel production by South American countries increased considerably during the month of April this year. The total monthly output was up by 22.10% to 3.633 Million tonnes.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during April was 367,000 tonnes, up considerably by 15.2% in comparison with the April 2016 production of 319,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.895 Million tonnes of crude steel, higher by nearly 26% when compared with 2.300 Million tonnes production achieved during April last year. Chile’s crude steel production in April recorded 13.7% increase to 105,000 tonnes in April this year. The total crude steel production by Colombia edged higher by nearly 10.4% to 1000,000 tonnes in April this year.

Ecuador’s crude steel output has declined modestly by 7.4% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 45,000 tonnes in April this year, as compared with 49,000 tonnes during April last year.  Paraguay’s crude steel output plunged heavily by over 63% during the month.

The crude steel output by Peru recorded marginal decline of around 8% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay was down marginally by 0.3% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production rebounded sharply by 50% year-on-year from 13,000 tonnes to around 20,000 tonnes.

North America

The crude steel production by North American countries too surged higher by 2.9% during the month of April year-on-year. The production totaled 9.555 Mt during the month, as compared with 9.284 Mt during April 2016.

The total crude steel production by Canada during April this year was 1.140 Mt, higher by 4.3% when compared with the April 2016 production. The US produced 6.717 Million tonnes of crude steel, marginally higher by 1.8% when compared with 6.601 Million tonnes production achieved during April 2016. The total crude steel production by Mexico increased by 7.4% from 1.536 Mt in April ‘16 to 1.650 Mt in April this year.

The Cuban crude steel production declined sharply by 24.5% year-on-year to 15,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 8,000 tonnes in April this year, down by nearly 6% when compared with April last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in April. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero.

Asia

The crude steel production by Asia surged higher by 4.8% during the month of April 2017 year-on-year.

The total crude steel production by China during April was 72.777 Million tonnes, marginally higher by 4.9% when compared with the production of 69.393 Mt during April 2016. India produced 8.065 million tonnes of crude steel, higher by 4.8% when compared with 7.694 Million tonnes production achieved during April last year.

Japan reported marginal increase of 3.0% in monthly crude steel output. Japan's crude steel output edged higher from 8.500 Million tonnes in April 2016 to 8.752 Million tonnes in the same month this year.

South Korean crude steel production dropped by 2.9% from 5.643 Million tonnes in April 2016 to 5.481 Million tonnes in April this year. Meantime, Pakistan’s crude steel output totaled 435,000 tonnes during the month.

The Taiwanese Mar ’17 crude steel output reported marginal jump of 1.8% year-on-year to 1.840 Million tonnes from 1.808 Million tonnes during same month last year. Also, Thailand’s crude steel output has increased by 16.2% from 331,000 tonnes during April last year to almost 385,000 tonnes this year. Vietnam’s crude steel output skyrocketed by 109.9% over the previous year.

Africa

The crude steel production by the African region registered 12.3% jump during the month of April year-on-year.

Egypt produced 512,000 tonnes of crude steel, surging higher by 45.2% when compared to 352,000 tonnes production achieved during April 2016. Libya’s crude steel output declined to 54,000 tonnes during the month of April this year, when matched with the production of 56,000 tonnes during the same month a year before. Morocco’s output increased by over 36.3% to touch 45,000 tonnes. South Africa’s crude steel output was down by 8.8% to 493,000 tonnes during the month when matched with the production figures of 541,000 tonnes during the same month a year before.

Other regions

The crude steel production by the Middle East region has increased by 12% during the month of April ’17 year-on-year. EU-28 region recorded jump of 6.1% in crude steel output during April this year. The output by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has dropped by over 3% during the month. Meantime, Oceania region recorded 11.7% surge in output.

Jan-Apr ’17 cumulative output

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the first four months of 2017 in comparison with those during same period in 2016.

Note: The above outputs are in thousands of tonnes.