Slight increase in global steel production

World crude steel production in the first six months of 2012 was 766.9 Mt, a slight increase of 0.9% compared to the same period of 2011, reports World Steel Association (worldsteel). North America and Asia showed an increase of 7.2% and 1.6% respectively (USA 8.4% and China 1.8%), while the EU (27) and South America recorded negative growth of -4.6% and -3.5% each.

China’s crude steel production for June 2012 was 60.2 Mt, an increase of 0.6% compared to June 2011. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 9.2 Mt of crude steel in June 2012,  up by 3.5% compared to the same month last year. South Korea’s crude steel production for June 2012 was 5.9 Mt, an increase of 4.3% compared to June 2011.

In the EU, Germany produced 3.7 Mt of crude steel in June 2012, a decrease of -4.0% on June 2011. Italy’s crude steel production for June 2012 was 2.4 Mt, down by -7.9% on June 2011. In June 2012, France produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel, down by -2.1% compared to June 2011. Spain’s crude steel production for June 2012 was 1.3 Mt, -8.8% lower than June 2011.

Turkey’s crude steel production for June 2012 was 2.9 Mt, an increase of 4.0% compared to June 2011.  The U.S. produced 7.3 Mt of crude steel in June 2012, up by 0.8% on June 2011. Brazil’s crude steel production for June 2012 was 2.7 Mt, -8.5% lower than June 2011. The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio for the 62 countries in June 2012 rose slightly to 80.4% from 79.7% in May 2012. Compared to June 2011, it was 2.5 percentage points lower.