World crude steel production for the 62 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute stood at 675.5 million tonnes for the first eight months of 2004. This level of production represents an 8.5% increase compared to the same period of 2003. Excluding China, worldwide production is 5.3% higher for the year to date (YTD).

Asian production increased by 12.2% compared to August 2003, with the majority of the growth attributable to China. Crude steel production in China stood at 23.4 million tonnes in August, a rise of 21.8% on August 2003. YTD production for China is 170.1 million tonnes, a rise of 21.1% on the first eight months of 2003. YTD production increased by 11.8% for all of Asia.

Production for the 25 countries in the European Union is up 8.6% compared to August 2003. Significant increases in Sweden (+26.2% to 432 thousand tonnes) and Luxembourg (+84.5% to 250 thousand tonnes) were tempered by decreases for Austria (–10.8% to 478 thousand tonnes) and Finland (–12.2% to 351 thousand tonnes). YTD production has increased by 5.7% to 128.7 million tonnes. The largest YTD increases for the region, on a percentage basis, were in the U.K. (+10.0% to 9385 thousand tonnes), Spain (+10.1% to 3870 thousand tonnes) and Poland (+19.4% to 7264 thousand tonnes).

Production in Other Europe increased 11.4% compared to August 2003, led by strong increases for Croatia (+145.8% to 10 thousand tonnes) and Serbia/Montenegro (+16.9% to 80 thousand tonnes). The region increased YTD production by 12.6%, led by increases for Croatia (+246.7% to 70 thousand tonnes) and Serbia/ Montenegro (+38.9% to 753 thousand tonnes).

CIS countries increased production by 2.5% to 9365 thousand tonnes compared to 9139 thousand tonnes in August 2003. Increases in Uzbekistan (+16.3% to 50 thousand tonnes) and Kazakhstan (+16.7% to 455 thousand tonnes) were tempered by decreased production in the Ukraine (–1.8% to 3200 thousand tonnes). YTD production for the region increased 5.7% compared to 2003, led by increases in Byelorussia (+21.7% to 1241 thousand tonnes) and Moldova (+38.4% to 681 thousand tonnes).

Total production in North America stands at 10.9 million tonnes in August, an increase of 11.2% on the same month last year. The largest percentage increases occurred in El Salvador (+18.6% to 5 thousand tonnes) and Mexico (+28.3% to 1440 thousand tonnes), while significant decreases were reported by Trinidad and Tobago (–15.4% to 61 thousand tonnes) and Cuba (–56.5% to 8 thousand tonnes). The region’s largest producers echoed world trends, with Canada gaining 10.9% (to 1356 thousand tonnes) and the United States increasing 9.0% (to 8007 thousand tonnes). YTD production for the region is 87.6 million tonnes, up by 5.9% on the first eight months of 2003, notably lower than the world average YTD increase of 8.5%. YTD U.S. and Canadian increases were also well below world trends, at +3.2% and +5.8%, respectively.

South American production increased by 6.2% in August compared to August 2003. The largest percentage increases in Uruguay (+20.5% to 5 thousand tonnes), Chile (+31.0% to 139 thousand tonnes) and Venezuela (+31.2% to 440 thousand tonnes) were moderated by decreases in Ecuador (–8.5% to 7 thousand tonnes) and Columbia (–14.4% to 45 thousand tonnes). YTD production has increased by 5.7% over YTD 2003 production, led by increases in Paraguay (+34.9% to 65 thousand tonnes) and Uruguay (+63.7% to 37 thousand tonnes).

August production in Africa was 1.0% lower than in August 2003, led by decreases in South Africa (–12.5% to 714 thousand tonnes) and Zimbabwe (–28.6% to 10 thousand tonnes). YTD production for the region has decreased by 0.4%, a stark contrast to world trends.

Middle East production increased by only 1.1% in August, with Saudi Arabian production 11.1% lower (303 thousand tonnes) than in August 2003. YTD production for the region is 3.4% higher than in 2003, well below world trends.

Oceania production decreased in August by 15.1% compared to August 2003, with New Zealand and Australian production 4.7% and 16.2% lower than August 2003 (71 and 555 thousand tonnes, respectively). YTD production for the region is 0.9% lower than in 2003.