IISI Reports World Steel Production for April 2008
05/23/2008 - World crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting to IISI stood at an estimated 116.4 million tonnes in April 2008 — 5.6% higher than for the same month of 2007, but 2.7% lower than the previous month, March 2008.
Figures released by the International Iron and Steel Institute show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 116.4 million tonnes in April 2008 — 5.6% higher than for the same month of 2007, but 2.7% lower than the previous month (March 2008).
Excluding China, world production grew by just 2.9% in April compared to April 2007, but fell by 4.0% compared to the previous month (March 2008).
World Steel Production, April '08 Region % of April '08 Total Change vs. April '07 EU (27) 15.6% +0.0% Other EU 2.3% +3.1% CIS 9.0% +0.3% 9.8% +2.5% 3.6% +6.7% 1.3% +1.0% 1.2% +9.3% 56.5% +8.7% 0.7% +11.4% World -- +5.8%
For the first four months of 2008, total world crude steel production reached 457.3 million tonnes, a 5.7% increase over the first four months of 2007. Of that 340.7-million-tonne four-month total, China produced 169.8 million tonnes of crude steel (37.1% of the four-month total), an increase of 9.1% compared to the same period in 2007.
Weighing in at 56.5% of total world production for April 2008, production in Asia stood at 66.7 million tonnes in April, 8.7% higher than in April 2007. Representing 38.4% of world production for April, Chinese production was reported at 44.7 million tonnes in April, a 10.2% increase compared to April 2007, and a 0.4% decrease compared to the previous month (March 2008). In April 2008, China’s moving annual total (MAT) growth rate slowed further to 11.0%, compared to its MAT growth rate of 20.6% in April 2007.
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 18.2 million tonnes of crude steel in April, virtually unchanged from April 2007. Comparing April 2008 to April 2007, crude steel production increased by 12.6% in Belgium and 8.8% in Greece, but fell by 24.1% in Bulgaria andby 10.3% in the U.K. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 15.6% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.7 million tonnes in April, an increase of 3.1% compared to April 2007. Switzerlandshowed the largest increase (+17.8%), followed by Serbia (+11.3%), while production fell by 38.3% in Bosnia-Herzegovina and by 19.3% in Croatia. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.3% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 10.5 million tonnes in April, reflecting a 0.3% increase compared to April 2007. Byelorussia reported the largest increase (+4.2%) and Kazakhstan reported the largest decrease (–12.9%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 9.0% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
North American production totaled 11.4 million tonnes in April, a 2.5% increase compared to April 2007. Comparing April 2008 to April 2007, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Guatemala (+80.7%) and El Salvador (+53.8%), while production grew by 1.1% in the U.S. over the same period and production fell by 29.8% in Trinidad and Tobago. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 9.8% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
South American production for April 2008 totaled 4.1 million tonnes, a 6.7% increase compared to April 2007. The largest percentage increases took effect in Peru (+46.1%), while Paraguay (–4.8%) logged the greatest percentage decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.6% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
Production in Africa totaled 1.5 million tonnes in April 2008, a 1.0% increase compared to April 2007. Comparing April 2008 to April 2007, the most significant percentage increase took effect in Morocco (+14.7%), while production fell most significantly in Algeria (–6.0%) over the same period. The African countries contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.4 million tonnes in April 2008, a 9.3% increase compared to April 2007. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.2% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.80 million tonnes in April, an 11.4% increase compared to April 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed nearly 0.7% of the total reported world production in April 2008.
Total world production for April decreased 2.7% compared to the previous month, March 2008.
