World steel production rises by 1.2 per cent

WORLD crude steel production reached 1,662 million tonnes (mt) for the year 2014, representing a 1.2 per cent increase compared to what it recorded in 2013. 

  According to the World Steel Association, in 2014, the Middle East, the smallest region for crude steel production had the most robust growth. 

  Unfortunately, Nigeria was not recorded as one of the top steel producers in the world.

  The only African countries that made the list in include Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and South Africa.

Crude steel production in the EU (28), North America and Asia grew modestly in 2014 compared to 2013, while in the C.I.S. and South America it decreased.

  It disclosed that yearly production for Asia was 1,132.3 Mt of crude steel in 2014, an increase of 1.4 per cent compared to 2013. China’s crude steel production in 2014 reached 822.7 Mt, an increase of 0.9 per cent on 2013. 

  According to data from the association, China’s share of world crude steel production decreased from 49.7 per cent in 2013 to 49.5 per cent in 2013. Japan produced 110.7 Mt in 2014, a 0.1 per cnet increase from 2013. South Korea’s crude steel production was 71.0 Mt, an increase of 7.5 per cent compared to 2013.

  It stated: “The EU recorded an increase of 1.7 per centt compared to 2013, producing 169.2 Mt of crude steel in 2014. Germany produced 42.9 Mt of crude steel in 2014, up by 0.7 per cent over 2013. Italy produced 23.7 Mt in 2014, a -1.4 per cent decrease over 2013. France’s crude steel production in 2014 was 16.1 Mt, an increase of 2.9 per cent. Spain produced 14.2 Mt of crude steel in 2013, a decrease of -0.6 per cent compared to 2013.

  “In 2014, crude steel production in North America was 121.2 Mt, an increase of two per cent on 2013. The US produced 88.3 Mt of crude steel, up by 1.7 per cent compared to 2013.

  In December 2014, world crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 133.7 Mt, an increase of 0.1 per cent compared to December 2013. The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 65 countries in December 2014 was 72.7 per cent. It is 2.4 percentage points lower than December 2013. The average capacity utilisation in 2014 was 76.7 per cent compared to 78.4 per cent in 2013”.