World crude steel production held steady in June; Half-yearly output slipped 1.9%

BRUSSELS (Scrap Monster): According to the most recent statistics published by the World Steel Association, the crude steel production by 66 member countries was 135.720 million tonnes (Mt) in June this year, broadly unchanged upon comparison with production of 135.669 Mt during same month a year before.

South America

The crude steel production by South American countries dropped significantly during the month of June this year. The total monthly output tumbled by 11.1% to 3.293 Million tonnes.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during June was 372,000 tonnes, down considerably by 16.2% in comparison with the June 2015 production of 445,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.541 Million tonnes of crude steel, down considerably by 8.5% when compared with 2.777 Million tonnes production achieved during June last year. The Chilean June crude steel production surged higher by nearly 6.1% to 100,000 tonnes in June this year. The total crude steel production by Colombia was down marginally by 1.5% to 105,000 tonnes in June this year.

Ecuador’s crude steel output dropped significantly by 14.5% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 50,000 tonnes in June this year, down when compared with 58,000 tonnes during June last year.  Paraguay’s crude steel output increased sharply by 24.4% during the month.

The crude steel output by Peru recorded marginal rise of 2.1% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay witnessed decline of 39.4% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production dropped considerably by 83.5% year-on-year from 121,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes.

North America

The crude steel production by North American countries dropped marginally by 1.2% during the month of June year-on-year. The production totaled 9.453 Mt in June this year.

The total crude steel production by Canada during June this year was 1.040 Mt, slightly down by 2.8% when compared with the June 2015 production. The US produced 6.833 Million tonnes of crude steel, slightly lower by 0.1% when compared with 6.843 Million tonnes production achieved during June 2015. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged lower by 0.9% from 1.539 Mt in June ‘15 to 1.525 Mt in June this year.

The Cuban crude steel production decreased sharply by 11.1% year-on-year to 20,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 10,000 tonnes in June this year, more or less flat when compared with June last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in June. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero in June this year from 49,000 tonnes during same month the previous year.

Asia

The crude steel production by Asia rose by 1.4% during the month of June 2016 year-on-year.

The total crude steel production by China during June was 69.470 Million tonnes, rising marginally by 1.7% when compared with the production of 68.309 Mt during June 2015. India produced 7.785 Million tonnes of crude steel, higher by 3.9% when compared with 7.495 Million tonnes production achieved during June last year.

Japan reported 2.7% jump in monthly crude steel output during the month. Japan's crude steel output climbed higher from 8.532 Million tonnes in June 2015 to 8.760 Million tonnes in the same month this year.

South Korean crude steel production declined sharply by 6.7% from 5.859 Million tonnes in June 2015 to 5.468 Million tonnes in June this year. Meantime, Pakistan’s crude steel output totaled 260,000 tonnes during the month.

The Taiwanese Apr ‘16 crude steel output has dropped marginally by 2.3% year-on-year to 1.750 Million tonnes from 1.791 Million tonnes during same month last year. On the other hand, Thailand’s crude steel output increased by 8.7% from 317,000 tonnes during June last year to almost 345,000 tonnes this year.

Africa

The crude steel production by the African region tumbled by 4.5% during the month of June year-on-year.

Egypt produced 330,000 tonnes of crude steel, considerably lower by 18.8% when compared to 407,000 tonnes production achieved during June 2015. Libya’s crude steel output surged to 45,000 tonnes during the month of June this year, when matched with 33,000 tonnes produced during the same month a year before. Morocco’s output plunged by 26.6% to 45,000 tonnes, when compared to 61,000 tonnes production achieved during June 2015. South Africa’s crude steel output was up by 6.9% to 545,000 tonnes during the month when matched with the production figures of 510,000 tonnes during the same month a year before.

Other regions

The crude steel production by the Middle East region declined by 3.0% during the month of June ’16 year-on-year. EU-28 region recorded 5.3% decline in crude steel output during June this year. The output by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) dropped marginally by 0.6% during the month. On the other hand, Oceania region recorded 20.5% jump in output.

Jan-June ’16 cumulative output

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the first half of 2016 in comparison with those during same period in 2015.

Note: The above outputs are in thousands of tonnes.