Global crude steel production reports 0.8% jump in 2016

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to the most recent statistics published by the World Steel Association, the crude steel production by 66 member countries was 134.059 million tonnes (Mt) in December 2016, rising significantly by 5.5% in comparison with the production of 127.018 Mt during same month a year before.

South America

The crude steel production by South American countries dropped significantly during the month of December last year. The total monthly output declined by 11.3% to 2.899 Million tonnes.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during December was 313,000 tonnes, down considerably by 15.9% in comparison with the December 2015 production of 372,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.149 Million tonnes of crude steel, lower by 12.7% when compared with 2.462 Million tonnes production achieved during December 2015. Chile’s December crude steel production dropped marginally by nearly 1.4% to 95,000 tonnes in December last year. The total crude steel production by Colombia was up by almost 95% to 110,000 tonnes in December 2016.

Ecuador’s crude steel output dropped significantly by nearly 12% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 50,000 tonnes in December last year, down when compared with 57,000 tonnes during December 2015.  Paraguay’s crude steel output plunged heavily by 44% during the month.

The crude steel output by Peru recorded modest rise of 10.7% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay witnessed decline of nearly 55% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production dropped considerably by nearly 40% year-on-year from 116,000 tonnes to just around 70,000 tonnes.

North America

The crude steel production by North American countries increased significantly by 9.9% during the month of December 2016 year-on-year. The production totaled 9.409 Mt during the month.

The total crude steel production by Canada during December last year was 1.030 Mt, slightly lower by 3.7% when compared with the December 2015 production. The US produced 6.619 Million tonnes of crude steel, higher by 11.0% when compared with 5.964 Million tonnes production achieved during December 2015. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged higher by nearly 24% from 1.374 Mt in December ‘15 to 1.705 Mt in December last year.

The Cuban crude steel production decreased sharply by around 34% year-on-year to 20,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 10,000 tonnes in December this year, down by nearly 25% when compared with December 2015. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in December. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero in December last year from 65,000 tonnes during same month the year before that.

Asia

The crude steel production by Asia rose by 4.0% during the month of December 2016 year-on-year.

The total crude steel production by China during December was 67.220 Million tonnes, rising by 3.2% when compared with the production of 65.136 Mt during December 2015. India produced 8.397 Million tonnes of crude steel, higher by 15% when compared with 7.305 Million tonnes production achieved during December 2015.

Japan reported marginal increase of 1.5% in monthly crude steel output during the month. Japan's crude steel output was up from 8.585 Million tonnes in December 2015 to 8.711 Million tonnes in the same month last year.

South Korean crude steel production dropped slightly by 0.2% from 5.870 Million tonnes in December 2015 to 5.858 Million tonnes in December last year. Meantime, Pakistan’s crude steel output totaled 340,000 tonnes during the month.

The Taiwanese Dec ‘16 crude steel output rose 12.7% year-on-year to 1.825 Million tonnes from 1.619 Million tonnes during same month last year. Also, Thailand’s crude steel output increased by 5.8% from 293,000 tonnes during December 2015 to almost 310,000 tonnes last year.

Africa

The crude steel production by the African region marked 9.6% jump during the month of December year-on-year.

Egypt produced 536,000 tonnes of crude steel, surging higher by 20.5% when compared to 444,000 tonnes production achieved during December 2015. Libya’s crude steel output dropped to 50,000 tonnes during the month of December last year, when matched with the production of 60,000 tonnes during the same month a year before. Morocco’s output surged almost 67% to 50,000 tonnes, when compared to 30,000 tonnes production achieved during December 2015. South Africa’s crude steel output reduced marginally by 2.4% to 416,000 tonnes during the month when matched with the production figures of 427,000 tonnes during the same month a year before.

Other regions

The crude steel production by the Middle East region skyrocketed by over 20% during the month of December ’16 year-on-year. EU-28 region recorded strong increase of 13.6% in crude steel output during December last year. The output by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) too increased by 6.6% during the month. Also, Oceania region recorded 19.6% jump in output.

Year 2016 crude steel output

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the entire year 2016 in comparison with those during 2015.

Note: The above outputs are in thousands of tonnes.