IISI Reports World Steel Production for August 2008
09/22/2008 - Figures released by the International Iron and Steel Institute show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 117.2 million tonnes in August 2008 — 6.2% higher than for the same month of 2007, but 1.6% lower than the previous month, July 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 112.2 million tonnes in August 2008 — 2.9% higher than for the same month of 2007, but 3.8% lower than the previous month (July 2008).
A significant factor in the lower total production vs. July was a 5.2% drop in production over the period for China, which contributed 37.9% of the August crude steel production total. Excluding China’s production, world production grew by 4.0% in August compared to August 2007, and fell by about 2.9% from the previous month (July 2008).
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World Steel Production, August '08
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Region
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% of August '08 Total
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Change vs. August '07
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EU (27)
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14.1%
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+1.8%
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Other EU
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2.4%
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+13.0%
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CIS
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9.2%
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+1.5%
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N. America
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10.4%
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+6.5%
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S. America
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4.0%
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+7.4%
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Africa
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1.35%
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+0.7%
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Middle East
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1.1%
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-6.8%
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Asia
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56.8%
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+2.4%
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Oceania
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0.7%
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+2.0%
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World
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--
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+2.9%
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For the eight seven months of 2008, total world crude steel production reached 926,334 million tonnes, a 5.6% increase over the first eight months of 2007. Of that 926-million-tonne eight-month total, China produced 351.1 million tonnes of crude steel (37.9% of the seven-month total), its total reflecting an increase of 8.2% compared to the same period in 2007.
Weighing in at 56.8% of total world production for August 2008, production in Asia stood at 63.8 million tonnes in August, just 2.4% higher than in August 2007. Representing 37.9% of world production for August, Chinese production was reported at 42.6 million tonnes in August, a 1.3% increase compared to August 2007, and a 5.2% fall compared to the previous month (July 2008).
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 15.8 million tonnes of crude steel in August, up 1.8% from August 2007. Comparing August 2008 to August 2007, crude steel production increased by 31.7% in Finland and 25.0% in Greece, but fell by 16.1% in Bulgaria andby 16.3% in Slovenia. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 14.1% of the total reported world production in August 2008, compared to 15.2% in July.
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.7 million tonnes in August, an increase of 13.0% compared to August 2007. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbiashowed the largest increases (+119.4%, +27.7%, and +25.3%, respectively), while production fell by 35.5% in Norway. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.4% of the total reported world production in August 2008, compared to 2.5% in July.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 10.3 million tonnes in August, reflecting a 1.5% increase compared to August 2007. Byelorussia reported the largest increase (+36.5%) and The Ukraine reported the largest decrease (–11.4%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 9.2% of the total reported world production in August 2008, up slightly from 9.0% in July.
North American production totaled 11.7 million tonnes in August, a 6.5% increase compared to August 2007. Comparing August 2008 to August 2007, the largest percentage increase was recorded in Canada (+33.1%), while production fell by 6.3% in Guatemala and by 5.8% in Trinidad and Tobago. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 10.4% of the total reported world production in August 2008, up from 9.9% in July.
South American production for August 2008 totaled 4.4 million tonnes, a 7.4% increase compared to August 2007. The largest percentage increases took effect in Peru (+35.1%) and Uruguay (+40.4%), while Paraguay (-41.7%) logged the greatest percentage decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 4.0% of the total reported world production in August 2008, up slightly from 3.8% in July.
Production in Africa totaled 1.5 million tonnes in August 2008, a small 0.7% increase compared to August 2007. Comparing August 2008 to August 2007, Morocco reported the largest increase (+86.0%), while production fell most significantly in Algeria (-86.0%) and Zimbabwe (-100.0%) over the same period. The African countries contributed 1.35% of the total reported world production in August 2008.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.2 million tonnes in August 2008, a 6.8% decrease compared to August 2007. Comparing August 2008 to August 2007, production increased by 40.8% in Qatar and fell by 12.7% in Saudi Arabia and by 9.6% in Iran. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.1% of the total reported world production in August 2008, virtually unchanged from the previous month.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.76 million tonnes in August, a 2.0% increase compared to August 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.7% of the total reported world production in August 2008, up slightly from 0.6% in July.
Total world production for August fell 3.8% compared to the previous month, July 2008.
