World Crude Steel Output Decreases by 8.0% in 2009
01/25/2010 - Despite a 13.5% year-on-year increase in crude steel production from China, world crude steel production decreased by about 8.0% in 2009 compared to 2008, with an estimated production total of 1220 million tonnes.
Figures released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) show that world crude steel production totaled an estimated 1220 million tonnes in 2009, an 8.0% decrease compared to 2008.
Steel production declined in 2009 in most of the major steel producing countries and regions including the EU -29.7%), North America (-33.9%), South America (-20.1%) and the CIS (-14.7%). However, Asia (+3.8%), in particular China (+13.5%) and India (+2.8%), and the Middle East (+3.5) showed positive growth in 2009.
In December 2009, world crude steel output for the 66 countries reporting the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 106.4 million tonnes, a 0.6% decrease vs. the previous month but an increase of 30.2% compared to December 2008. The year-on-year increase was supported by double-digit growth (vs. December 2008) for most major steel-producing countries. For the World minus China, December production represented a 1.8% decrease vs. the previous month and a 33.4% increase vs. December 2008.
According to the World Steel Association, the world crude steel capacity utilization ratio of the 66 countries in December 2009 was 71.5%, a decrease from 74.7% in November 2009. Compared to 2008, the utilization ratio in December 2009 increased by 13.4 percentage points.
The following countries produced the greatest quantities of crude steel in 2009. The number in parentheses reflects that country’s percentage change in production tonnage compared to 2008:
- China, 567.8 million tonnes (+13.5%)
- Japan, 87.5 million tonnes (-26.3%)
- Russia, 59.9 million tonnes (-12.5%)
- United States, 58.1 million tonnes (-36.4%)
- India, 56.6 million tonnes (+2.7%)
- South Korea, 48.6 million tonnes (-9.4%)
- Germany, 32.7 million tonnes (-28.7%)
- Ukraine, 29.8 million tonnes (-20.2%)
- Brazil, 26.5 million tonnes (-21.4%)
- Turkey, 25.3 million tonnes (-5.6%)
December and Full-Year Production by Region — Weighing in at 65% of total world steel production (up from 58% in 2008), Asia produced 795.4 million tonnes of crude steel in 2009, an increase of 3.5% compared to 2008. December production, at 67.56 million tonnes, represents a 23.6% increase vs. December 2008.
China’s crude steel production in 2009 reached 567.8 million tonnes, an increase of 13.5% on 2008 and a record annual crude steel production figure for a single country. China’s steel production represented 47% of total world steel production, an increase of 9 percentage points compared to 2008. Taiwan (+36.8%) and China (+26.6%) logged the Asian region’s largest increases vs., December 2008, followed by Japan (+19.6%) and South Korea (+18.0%).
|
World Steel Production by Region for 2009
in millions of tonnes |
|||
|
|
All 2009
|
% change vs. ‘08
|
% of Total
|
|
European Union (27)
|
139.1
|
-29.7%
|
11.6%
|
|
Other Europe
|
28.8
|
-7.9%
|
2.4%
|
|
C.I.S. (6)
|
97.4
|
-14.7%
|
8.1%
|
|
North America
|
82.3
|
-33.9%
|
6.9%
|
|
South America
|
37.8
|
-20.1%
|
3.2%
|
|
Africa
|
14.8
|
-11.3%
|
1.2%
|
|
Middle East
|
16.6
|
+3.5%
|
1.4%
|
|
Asia
|
776.3
|
+3.8%
|
64.7%
|
|
China
|
567.8
|
+13.5
|
47.4%
|
|
Oceania
|
6.0
|
-28.6%
|
0.5%
|
|
Total 66 countries
|
1199.2
|
-8.1%
|
100.0%
|
For the year, Asia reported the production of 776.33 million tonnes of crude steel, a 3.8% increase vs. 2008. The region’s growth for the year was supported by growth in China (+13.5%) and India (+2.8%), while year-on-year decreases were recorded in Japan (-26.3%), Taiwan (-20.8%), and South Korea (-9.4%).
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU (27)) produced 12.24 million tonnes of crude steel in December, up 34.9%% from December 2008. Comparing December 2009 to December 2008, crude steel production fell only in Czech Republic (-15.7%) and Italy (-10%), while most regions exhibited double- and even triple-digit increases. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 11.5% of the total reported world production in December 2009, down from 13.2% the previous month.
For the year, EU (27) reported the production of 139.14 million tonnes of crude steel, a 29.7% decrease vs. 2008. Most countries in the region reported double-digit decreases for the year.
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.55 million tonnes in December, an increase of 27.1% compared to December 2008. Decreases were recorded in Croatia (-14.6%) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (-18.9%) while the most significant increases were reported by Switzerland (+79.5%), Norway(+70.6%), and Serbia (+49.6%). Altogether, the countries in Other Europe contributed 2.4% of the total reported world production in December 2009, up slightly from 2.3% in the previous month.
For the year, Other Europe reported the production of 28.81 million tonnes of crude steel, a 7.9% decrease vs. YTD 2008. Year-on-year increases were recorded in Macedonia (+9.9%) and Norway (+5.0%) while most other countries recorded double-digit decreases.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 8.89 million tonnes in December, reflecting a 53.3% increase compared to December 2008. Comparing December 2009 to December 2008, the most significant increases were recorded in Kazakhstan(+100.5%), Russia(+66.3%), and Ukraine (+35.4%), while the most significant losses were recorded in Moldova (-48.1%).Altogether, the CIS countries contributed 8.4% of the total reported world production in December 2009, up from 8.1% of the previous month’s total.
For the year, CIS reported the production of 97.36 million tonnes of crude steel, a 14.7% decrease vs. 2008. Most countries in the region reported double-digit year-on-year decreases.
North American production totaled 8.15 million tonnes in December, a 50.9% increase in comparison to December 2008. Comparing December 2009 to December 2008, the largest increases were recorded in El Salvador (+204.8%), Mexico (+72.3%), Trinidad and Tobago (+59.4%), the U.S. (+48.2%) and Canada (+37.3%). Altogether, the North American countries contributed 7.7% of the total reported world production in December 2009, down from 7.8% in the previous month.
For the year, North America reported the production of 82.25 million tonnes of crude steel, a 33.9% decrease vs. 2008. Most countries in the region reported double-digit year-on-year decreases.
South American production for December 2009 totaled 3.62 million tonnes, a 52.6% increase compared to December 2008. Comparing December 2009 to December 2008, decreases were recorded in Uruguay(-14.5%) and Paraguay (-10.9%) while the most significant increases were recorded in Colombia (99.5%), Chile (+86.1%), Brazil (+56.4%) and Argentina (+47.5%). Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.4% of the total reported world production in December 2009, down slightly from the previous month.
For the year, South America reported the production of 37.82 million tonnes of crude steel, a 33.9% decrease vs. 2008. While Ecuador reported 106.2% year-on-year growth, most other countries in the region reported double-digit year-on-year decreases.
Production in Africa totaled 1.36 million tonnes in December 2009, a 100.7% increase compared to December 2008. Comparing December 2009 to December 2008, the largest percentage increases were recorded in South Africa (+278.9%), Algeria (+51.6%), and Egypt (+35.9%), while Libya recorded the region’s largest decrease (-32.5%). The African countries contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in December 2009, up slightly from 1.2% the previous month.
For the year, Africa reported the production of 14.84 million tonnes of crude steel, an 11.3% decrease vs. 2008.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.39 million tonnes in December 2009, a 14.0% increase compared to December 2008. Comparing December 2009 to December 2008, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Qatar (129.8%) and Saudi Arabia (+51.0%). Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in December 2009, up slightly from 1.2% the previous month.
For the year, the Middle East reported the production of 16.59 million tonnes of crude steel, a 3.5% increase vs. 2008.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.65 million tonnes in December 2009, a 29.7% increase compared to December 2008. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.6% of the total reported world production in December 2009, virtually unchanged from 0.6% in the previous month.
For the year, Oceania reported the production of 6.01 million tonnes of crude steel, a 28.6% decrease vs. 2008.
Total world production for December 2009 decreased 0.6% compared to the previous month, November 2009. World production for the year reached 1199.16 million tonnes, an 8.1% decrease compared to 2008.
