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February World Crude Steel Production Up 1.9% vs. February 2011
03/21/2012 - World crude steel production for the 59 countries reporting to the World Steel Association stood at 119.2 million tonnes for February 2012, 1.9% higher in comparison with February 2011 and 2.1% higher than the previous month, January 2012.
Figures released by the World Steel Association show that world crude steel production for the 59 countries reporting stood at 119.2 million tonnes for February 2012, 1.9% higher in comparison with February 2011 and 2.1% higher than the previous month, January 2012.
China logged a 3.3% year-on-year increase for February 2012, while production for the balance of the world (excluding China’s production) increased about 0.7% vs. February 2011. Year-on-year changes (February 2012 vs. February 2011) included both increases and decreases that varied widely throughout all regions.
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World Steel Production, Feb. '12
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Region
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% of Feb. '12 Total
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Change vs. Feb. '11
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EU (27)
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11.8%
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-3.8%
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Other EU
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2.5%
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+8.8%
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CIS
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7.4%
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-1.4%
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N. America
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8.3%
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+9.1%
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S. America
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3.2%
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+1.8%
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Africa/M. East
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1.3%
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+3.9%
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Asia
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65.0%
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+2.3%
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Oceania
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0.5%
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-13.2%
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World
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--
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+1.9%
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According to the Association, crude steel capacity utilization ratio of the 59 countries in February 2012 increased to 79.7%, 3.1 percentage points higher than the previous month (January 2012). Compared to February 2011, the utilization ratio in February 2012 decreased by 2.8 percentage points.
February Production by Region — Weighing in at 65.0% of total world production for February 2011 (vs. 63.3% the previous month), production in Asiastood at 77.42 million tonnes in February, 2.3% higher than in February 2011.
Japan (-3.7%) and Taiwan (-2.1%) logged the region’s largest percentage decreases vs. February 2011 while South Korea (+7.6%) and China (+3.3%) logged the largest increase.
Representing 46.9% of world production for February (vs. 44.6% the previous months), China’s production was reported at 55.88 million tonnes in February. China’s reported production represents a 7.3% increase compared to the previous month, and a 3.3% increase vs. February 2011.
For the year to date, the countries of Asia reported the production of 156.56 million tonnes, up 0.9% vs. the comparable year-ago period
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 14.07 million tonnes of crude steel in February, down 3.8% from February 2011. Comparing February 2012 to February 2011, crude steel production fell most significantly in Belgium (-32.7%), Luxembourg (-28.0%), and UK (-26.4%) while Poland (+20.4%) and Romania (+15.2%) reported the largest increases over the same period. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 11.8% of the total reported world production in February 2012, vs. 11.9% the previous month.
For the year to date, the countries of the EU(27) reported the production of 28.02 million tonnes, down 4.6% vs. the comparable year-ago period.
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.99 million tonnes in February, an increase of 8.8% compared to February 2011. The most significant increase was recorded in Norway (+44.6%) while the largest decreases were reported by Croatia (-54.8%) and Serbia (-41.9%) and. Altogether, the countries in Other Europe contributed 2.5% of the total reported world production in February 2012, vs. 2.9% the previous month.
For the year to date, the countries of Other Europe reported the production of 6.35 million tonnes, up 9.7% vs. the comparable year-ago period.
Production in the countries of the CIStotaled 8.78 million tonnes in Februuary, reflecting a 1.4% decrease compared to February 2011. For February 2012, the region’s largest decreases (vs. vs. February 2011) were reported by Kazakhstan (-23.7%) and Uzbekistan (-21.2%), while other countries reported only single-digit changes. Altogether, the CIS countries contributed 7.4% of the total reported world production in February 2011, vs. 8.1% the previous month.
For the year to date, the countries of CIS reported the production of 18.18 million tonnes, down 1.4% vs. the comparable year-ago period.
North American production totaled 9.95 million tonnes in February, a 9.1% increase in comparison to February 2011. Comparing February 2012 to February 2011, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Guatemala (+72.4%) and El Salvador (+42.9%), while the largest decreases (-40.8%, -25.9%) was reported by Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba, respectively. Other countries reported small (single-digit) changes. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 8.3% of the total reported world production in February 2012, vs. 8.9% in the previous month.
For the year to date, the countries of North America reported the production of 20.49 million tonnes, up 7.9% vs. the comparable year-ago period.
South American production for February 2012 totaled 3.83 million tonnes, a 1.8% increase compared to February 2011. The region’s largest percentage increases took effect in Paraguay (+400%) and Uruguay (+150%) while the largest decrease was reported by Chile (-23.1%) and Venezuela (-22.8%). Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.2% of the total reported world production in February 201, vs. 3.3% the previous month.
For the year to date, the countries of South America reported the production of 7.66 million tonnes, up 2.0% vs. the comparable year-ago period.
Production in Africa/Middle East totaled 1.61 million tonnes in February 2012, a 3.9% increase compared to February 2011. Comparing February 2012 to February 2011, increases were reported by Egypt (+19.1%) and Saudi Arabia (+2.6%) while South Africa reported a 5.3% decrease. The African/Middle Eastern countries contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in February 2011, vs. 1.3% the previous month.
For the year to date, the countries of Africa/Middle East reported the production of 3.15 million tonnes, a 1.0% decrease compared to the comparable year-ago period.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.55 million tonnes in February 2011, a 13.2% decrease compared to February 2011. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.5% of the total reported world production in February 2011, vs. 0.4% the previous month.
Total world production for February 2011 increased 2.1% compared to the previous month, January 2011, and increased by 1.9% compared to February 2011.
