North American Region Recorded 4% Decline in Crude Steel Output

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The crude steel output by North American countries surged higher by 3.9% during the month of March this year. According to recent data published by the World Steel Association (worldsteel), the regional production totaled 10.742 million tonnes (Mt) in March 2019. This compares with the production of 10.343 Mt in March last year. All countries except Mexico recorded increased year-on-year output.

The U.S. continued to be the leading steel producer in the region. The monthly crude steel output by the country recorded an increase of 5.7% from 7.334 Mt to 7.752 Mt over the previous year. The second largest producer was Mexico with an output of 1.780 Mt. The output by the country witnessed a decline of 3.8% upon comparison with 1.850 Mt of crude steel produced in March 2018. In third place was Canada whose crude steel output totaled 1.150 Mt, marginally up by 3.4% over the previous year. The other key producers in the region along with their output in tonnes are as follows: Cuba (20,000), El Salvador (10,000) and Guatemala (30,000).

The cumulative crude steel output by the region during the initial three-month period of the current year totaled 30.708 Mt. This compares with the production of 29.539 Mt in Jan-Mar ’18. The top three producers were the U.S. (22.226 Mt), Mexico (4.978 Mt) and Canada (3.340 Mt).

The year-on-year North American crude steel production growth of 3.9% stood far below the world growth rate of 4.9% during the month.