Crude Steel Production Soared 4.5% in North America

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The May 2019 crude steel production data published by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) indicates significant jump in North American regional output. The region’s output rose by 4.5% over the previous year to total 10.521 million tonnes (Mt). It must be noted that North American production had totaled only 10.072 Mt in May last year.

The U.S., the largest crude steel producer in the region saw its output rising by 5.4%. The production totaled 7.653 Mt, accounting for approximately 73% of the total regional output. Mexico continued to be the second largest producer, despite recording 4.1% year-on-year decline in output. The Mexican production totaled around 1.670 Mt during the month. In third place was Canada with total production of 1.150 Mt. The Canadian crude steel output surged higher by 12.8% over the previous year. The other key steel producers in the region along with their estimated steel output during the month were as follows: Guatemala (25,000 tonnes), Cuba (15,000 tonnes) and El Salvador (8,000 tonnes).

The combined regional steel production during the first five months of the current year totaled 51.171 Mt, higher by 3.5% upon comparison with the output of 49.435 Mt during the corresponding five-month period in 2018. All countries except Cuba and Mexico have raised their production over the previous year. The top three producers during Jan-May ’19 were the U.S. (37.169 Mt), Mexico (8.144 Mt) and Canada (5.610 Mt).