World Crude Steel Production Continues Rise in January 2011
02/22/2011 - World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association stood at an estimated 119 million tonnes for January 2011 — 2.8% higher than the previous month (December 2010) and 5.3% higher in comparison with January 2010.
Figures released by the World Steel Association show that world crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting stood at an estimated 119 million tonnes for January 2011, 2.8% higher than the previous month (December 2010) and 5.3% higher in comparison with January 2010. The Association noted that January 2011 crude steel production figures for many countries were not available at press time, thus this month’s statistics include more estimates than usual.
|
World Steel Production, Jan. '11
|
||
|
Region
|
% of Jan. '11 Total
|
Change vs. Jan. '10
|
|
EU (27)
|
11.9%
|
+4.0%
|
|
Other EU
|
2.5%
|
+32.8%
|
|
CIS
|
8.1%
|
+13.7%
|
|
N. America
|
7.9%
|
+7.4%
|
|
S. America
|
3.2%
|
+9.0%
|
|
Africa
|
1.2%
|
+2.3%
|
|
Middle East
|
1.4%
|
+5.2%
|
|
Asia
|
63.1%
|
+3.3%
|
|
Oceania
|
0.6%
|
+8.4%
|
|
World
|
--
|
+5.3%
|
China logged a 0.5% year-on-year increase, according to an estimate provided by the China Iron and Steel Association, while production for the balance of the world (excluding China’s estimated production) increased about 9.5% vs. January 2010. Year-on-year changes (January 2011 vs. January 2010) included a range of increases throughout all the major regions.
According to the Association, world crude steel capacity utilization ratio for the 66 countriesin January 2011 was 75.6%, an increase from 73.3% in December 2010. Compared to January 2010, the utilization ratio in January 2011 is 0.4 percentage point lower.
January Production by Region — Weighing in at 63.1% of total world production for January 2011 (down slightly from 63.4% the previous month), production in Asia stood at 75.43 million tonnes in January, 3.3% higher than in January 2010. South Korea (+24.2%), Japan (+10.7%) and Taiwan (+10.7%) logged the region’s largest percentage increases vs. January 2010.
Representing 44.2% of world production for December (down slightly from 44.4% the previous month), China’s production was estimated at 52.80 million tonnes in January. China’s estimated production represents a 2.5% increase compared to the previous month, and a 0.5% increase vs. January 2010.
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 14.24 million tonnes of crude steel in January, up 4.0% from January 2010. Comparing January 2011 to January 2010, crude steel production grew significantly in Slovakia (24.9%), Czech Republic (20.5%%), Slovenia (20.4%%) and Austria (20.2%), while Luxembourg (-40.8%) and Greece (-36.0) reported the largest decreases over the same period.
Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 11.9% of the total reported world production in January 2011, up from 12.2% the previous month.
Production in Other Europe totaled 3.04 million tonnes in January, an increase of 32.8% compared to January 2010. The most significant increases were recorded in Macedonia (+201.3%) and Croatia (+66.8%).
Altogether, the countries in Other Europe contributed 2.5% of the total reported world production in January 2011, down slightly from 2.7% in the previous month.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 9.65 million tonnes in January, reflecting a 13.7% increase compared to January 2010. While Kazakhstan (+34.1%) reported the largest increase vs. January 2010, most other countries also reported smaller increases.
Altogether, the CIS countries contributed 8.1% of the total reported world production in January 2011, down slightly from 8.3% the previous month.
North American production totaled 9.41 million tonnes in January, a 7.4% increase in comparison to January 2010. Comparing January 2011 to January 2010, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Cuba (+18.3%) and Guatemala (+14.2%), while a double-digit decrease was recorded in El Salvador (-14.2%).
Altogether, the North American countries contributed 7.9% of the total reported world production in January 2011, down from 8.2% in the previous month.
South American production for January 2011 totaled 3.82 million tonnes, a 9.0% increase compared to January 2010. The region’s largest percentage increases took effect in Ecuador (+68.6%), Venezuela (+57.7%) and Columbia (+33.7%), while the most significant decrease was recorded in Chile (-9.8%).
Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.2% of the total reported world production in January 2011, up slightly from 3.0% the previous month.
Production in Africa totaled 1.42 million tonnes in January 2011, a 2.3% increase compared to January 2010. Comparing January 2011 to January 2010, the largest percentage increase was recorded in Libya (+13.3%), while the largest decreases were reported in Morocco (-51.6%) and Algeria (-18.7%).
The African countries contributed 1.2% of the total reported world production in January 2011, down slightly from 1.3% the previous month.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.66 million tonnes in January 2011, a 5.2% increase compared to January 2010. Comparing January 2011 to January 2010, the largest percentage increase was recorded in Iran (+16.2%) while Saudi Arabia reported a decrease (-18.3%).
Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.4% of the total reported world production in January 2011, unchanged from 1.4% the previous month.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.73 million tonnes in January 2011, an 8.4% increase compared to January 2010. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.6% of the total reported world production in January 2011, unchanged from the previous month.
Total world production for January 2011 increased 2.8% compared to the previous month, December 2010, and increased by 5.3% compared to January 2010.
The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world, representing approximately 170 steel producers (including 19 of the world's 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. worldsteel members produce around 85% of the world's steel.
