Global crude steel output up by 2.2%, says worldsteel

WORLD crude steel production reached 141 million tonnes (Mt) in May 2014, an increase of 2.2% compared to May 2013, reports World Steel Association (worldsteel).

China’s crude steel production for May 2014 was 70.4 Mt, up by 2.6% compared to May 2013. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 9.6 Mt of crude steel in May 2014, a decrease of -0.3% over May 2013. South Korea’s crude steel production was 6.2 Mt in May 2014, up by 11.4% on May 2013.

In the EU, Germany produced 3.9 Mt of crude steel in May 2014, an increase of 7.3% compared to May 2013. Italy produced 2.3 Mt of crude steel, down by -0.8% compared to May 2013. France’s crude steel production was 1.4 Mt, a decrease of -4.0% on May 2013. Spain produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel, down by -2.9% compared to May 2013.

Turkey’s crude steel production for May 2014 was 3.0 Mt, down by -0.7% on May 2013.

In May 2014, Russia produced 6.1 Mt of crude steel, an increase of 0.6% compared to the same month 2013. Ukraine’s production was 2.8 Mt in May 2014, up by 2.2% on May 2013.

The US produced 7.5 Mt of crude steel in May 2014, an increase of 1.4% compared to May 2013.

Brazil’s crude steel production for May 2014 was 2.9 Mt, down by -4.3% on May 2013.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio for the 65 countries in May 2014 was 78.5% and it is 0.7 percentage points lower than May 2013. Compared to April 2014, it is 0.2 percentage points lower.