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Stainless Crude Steel Production up 6.3%

06/08/2004 - Stainless crude steel production rose by 6.3% in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same quarter in 2003, according to the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF). Total global production in the first quarter of 2004 was 6.1 million tonnes.

Stainless crude steel production rose by 6.3% in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same quarter in 2003, according to the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF). Total global production in the first quarter of 2004 was 6.1 million tonnes.

Stainless and Heat Resisting Crude Steel Production (in '000 tonnes)
Region
2002
2003
Change
Q1 �03
Q1 �04
Change
Western Europe/Africa
8,628
9,055
4.9%
2,442
2,401
-1.7%
Eastern Europe
252
277
9.9%
70
65
-7.1%
The Americas
2,734
2,831
3.5%
695
732
5.3%
Asia
9,049
10,645
17.6%
2,507
2,876
14.7%
Total World
20,663
22,808
10.4%
5,714
6,074
6.3%

Asia showed again the strongest growth, almost 15% to 2.9 million tonnes. Driving forces were China and South Korea. Production in the Western Europe/Africa region declined by 1.7%, to 2.4 million tonnes. The decline was influenced by strikes at two major stainless steel mills during the quarter.

The Americas increased their stainless crude steel production by 5.3% to 0.7 million tonnes. Production in Eastern Europe declined by 7.1% compared to the first quarter of 2003.

ISSF expects global stainless crude steel production to grow by 6.8% to 24.4 million tonnes for the full year 2004. This forecast is unchanged from the forecast released during ISSF’s Annual General Meeting in Seoul, South Korea two weeks ago.

The International Stainless Steel Forum is a non-profit organization, which serves as a world forum on various aspects of the international stainless steel industry. Founded in 1996, ISSF has its own Secretary General, Board of Directors, Committees and budgets and is legally a part of the International Iron and Steel Institute. ISSF is based in Brussels, Belgium.