With Lockdown in Place, India’s Crude Steel Output Down 65% to 3.13 MT in April: Report

New Delhi: India’s crude steel output declined over 65% to 3.13 million tonnes (MT) during April, according to the World Steel Association. Also Read - JSW Steel crude steel output drops marginally to 14.53 LT in Jan '19

The government imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25 to prevent spread of the coronavirus pandemic which has impacted production, demand and supply of steel in India. Also Read - India's crude steel output declines 4 pc to 8.99 MT in Jan

The country had produced 9.02 MT of crude steel during the same month a year ago, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) said in a report. Also Read - India's crude steel output falls 1.4 pc to 8.936 MT in Dec

India had posted a 14% decline in steel output at 8.65 MT in March as compared with 10.04 MT in March 2019.

Global steel output also declined 13% to 137.09 MT as compared with 157.67 MT in April 2019.

“Due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of this month’s (April) figures are estimates that may be revised with next month’s production update,” the global industry body said.

China, which had for the first time in many months reported a 1.7% fall in its output in March at 78.97 MT, has started showing growth in production, the data showed.

The country, which has a sizeable share in global output, produced 85.03 MT steel in April, a marginal rise of 0.2% as compared with 84.87 MT in the corresponding month of 2019, according to data from the report.

US produced 4.96 MT of crude steel in April, 32%lower than 7.35 MT in the year-ago month.

Japan registered a 23% fall in crude steel production at 6.61 MT in April 2020 as against 8.64 MT in April 2019.

South Korea produced 5.50 MT crude steel, down 8.4% from 6 MT in April 2019.

In the EU, worldsteel said, Germany estimated 3 MT of crude steel production in April 2020, down 10.7% from April 2019. Italy’s production was down by 30.7% at 1.35 MT.

France estimated 0.80 MT of crude steel production in April 2020, a 37.9% decrease compared to April 2019, while Spain produced 0.67 MT of crude steel in April 2020, down 48% from April 2019.

Russia estimated 4.70 MT of crude steel production in April 2020, Ukraine produced 1.33 MT, while Brazil produced 1.81 MT.

Turkey’s crude steel production for April 2020 was 2.24 MT, it said.