Global steel production up 25% in January

23. Feb. 2010

World steel output increased by 25,5% year-on-year in January to 109-million tons, the World Steel Association said on Monday.

Japan's output rose by 36,8% year-on-year to 8,7-million tons, China's steel production by 18,2% year-on-year to 48,7-million tons and South Korea's output by 32,4% year-on-year to 4,5-million tons.

The US reported a 48,8% increase in steel production to 6,1-million tons in January.

Further, Germany saw a 27,7% increase in output to 3,4-million tons, while France's output rose 32,3% to 1,1-million tons. Turkey also increased its output to 2,1-million tons, a 2% year-on-year increase.

Brazilian crude steel production amounted to 2,7-million tons in January, representing a 66,6% increase on output in January 2009, while Russia produced 33% more crude steel at 5,2-million tons.

The Ukraine's output increased by 28,4% to 2,7-million tons, while Australia boosted its output by 38,6% to 600 000 t in January.

Africa's crude steel output increased by 21% to 1,3-million tons, compared with 1,1-million tons the year before, with South Africa having increased its output to an estimated 710 000 t in January, compared with 470 000 t in January last year.

The association, which represents 66 countries, noted that the world crude steel capacity utilisation rates had improved to 72,9%, up from 71,9% in December.

This was also 11,6 percentage points higher than the capacity utilisation rates of January 2009.
[EngineeringNews]