IISI Reports World Steel Production for May 2008
06/23/2008 - World crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting to IISI stood at an estimated 119.5 million tonnes in May 2008 — 5.8% higher than for the same month of 2007, but only 2.9% higher than the previous month, April 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 119.5 million tonnes in May 2008 — 5.8% higher than for the same month of 2007, but only 2.9% higher than the previous month (April 2008).
Excluding China, world production grew by just 3.1% in May compared to May 2007, and grew by 2.9% compared to the previous month (April 2008), reflecting virtually the same growth rate as total world production including China.
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World Steel Production, May '08
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Region
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% of May '08 Total
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Change vs. May '07
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EU (27)
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15.4%
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+0.1%
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Other EU
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2.5%
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+10.7%
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CIS
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9.1%
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+3.6%
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N. America
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9.8%
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+3.2%
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S. America
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3.5%
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+2.9%
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Africa
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1.3%
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-2.2%
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Middle East
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1.2%
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+22.9%
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Asia
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56.6%
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+8.3%
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Oceania
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0.6%
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-5.8%
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World
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--
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+5.8%
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For the first five months of 2008, total world crude steel production reached 576.6 million tonnes, a 5.6% increase over the first five months of 2007. Of that 576.6-million-tonne five-month total, China produced 216.1 million tonnes of crude steel (37.5% of the five-month total), an increase of 9.4% compared to the same period in 2007.
Weighing in at 56.6% of total world production for May 2008, production in Asia stood at 67.6 million tonnes in May, 8.3% higher than in May 2007. Representing 38.5% of world production for May, Chinese production was reported at 46.0 million tonnes in May, a 10.5% increase compared to May 2007, and a 3.0% decrease compared to the previous month (April 2008).
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 18.4 million tonnes of crude steel in May, virtually unchanged (+0.1%) from May 2007. Comparing May 2008 to May 2007, crude steel production increased by 25.0% in Belgium and 15.3% in Slovenia, but fell by 21.7% in Romania andby 21.5% in Greece. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 15.4% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
Production in Other Europe totaled 3.0 million tonnes in May, an increase of 10.7% compared to May 2007. Croatiashowed the largest increase (+61.8%), followed by Macedonia (+14.2%), while production fell by 13.8% in Norway. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.5% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 10.9 million tonnes in May, reflecting a 3.6% increase compared to May 2007. Byelorussia reported the largest increase (+15.0%) and Kazakhstan reported the largest decrease (–13.5%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 9.1% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
North American production totaled 11.7 million tonnes in May, a 3.2% increase compared to May 2007. Comparing May 2008 to May 2007, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Mexico (+16.5%) and Trinidad and Tobago (+11.5%), while production grew by only 0.5% in the U.S. over the same period and fell by 6.3% in El Salvador. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 9.8% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
South American production for May 2008 totaled 4.2 million tonnes, a 2.9% increase compared to May 2007. The largest percentage increases took effect in Peru (+120.4%) and Uruguay (+27.0%), while Columbia (-20.6%) logged the greatest percentage decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.5% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
Production in Africa totaled 1.6 million tonnes in May 2008, a 2.2% decrease compared to May 2007. Comparing May 2008 to May 2007, the most significant percentage increase took effect in Morocco (+20.7%), while production fell most significantly in Algeria (–11.2%) over the same period. The African countries contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.2 million tonnes in May 2008, a 22.9% increase compared to May 2007. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.2% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.73 million tonnes in May, a 5.8% decrease compared to May 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.6% of the total reported world production in May 2008.
Total world production for May increased 2.9% compared to the previous month, April 2008.
