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World Steel Association Reports Steel Production for September 2008

10/23/2008 - Figures released by the World Steel Association show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 108.4 million tonnes in September 2008 — 3.2% lower than for the same month of 2007, and 3.7% lower than the previous month, August 2008.

Figures released by the World Steel Association (known formerly as the International Iron and Steel Institute) show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 108.4 million tonnes in September 2008 — 3.2% lower than for the same month of 2007, and 3.7% lower than the previous month (August 2008).
 
A significant factor in the lower total production vs. August was a 6.9% drop in production over the period for China, which contributed 36.5% of the September crude steel production total. Excluding China’s production, world production was virtually unchanged (+0.6%) in September 2008 compared to September 2007, and fell by only 1.7% in from the previous month (August 2008).
World Steel Production, Sep. '08
Region
% of Sep. '08 Total
Change vs. Sep. '07
EU (27)
16.1%
+0.9%
Other EU
2.3%
+5.5%
CIS
8.6%
-6.4%
N. America
10.1%
+0.0%
S. America
3.9%
+4.7%
Africa
1.34%
-7.9%
Middle East
1.3%
+1.7%
Asia
55.8%
-5.1%
Oceania
0.7%
-2.3%
World
--
-3.2%
 
For the first nine months of 2008, total world crude steel production reached 1035.85 million tonnes, a 4.6% increase over the first nine months of 2007. Of that 1036-million-tonne nine-month total, China produced 390.95 million tonnes of crude steel (37.7% of the nine-month total). China’s nine-month total reflects a 6.2% increase compared to the same period in 2007.
 
Weighing in at 55.8% of total world production for September 2008, production in Asia stood at 60.45 million tonnes in September, 5.1% lower than in September 2007. Representing 6.5% of world production for September, Chinese production was reported at 39.6 million tonnes in September, a 9.1% decrease compared to September 2007, and a 6.9% fall compared to the previous month (August 2008).
 
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 17.4 million tonnes of crude steel in September, up 0.9% from September 2007. Comparing September 2008 to September 2007, crude steel production increased by 13.6% in Luxembourg and 12.3% in Finland, but fell by 29.2% in Slovakia and by 23.0% in Bulgaria. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 16.1% of the total reported world production in September 2008, compared to 14.1% in August.
 
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.5 million tonnes in September, an increase of 5.5% compared to September 2007. Serbiashowed the largest increases (+122.4%), followed by Croatia (+10.3%), while production fell by 21.2% in Macedonia and by 17.1% in Norway. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.3% of the total reported world production in September 2008, compared to 2.4% in August.
 
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 9.3 million tonnes in September, reflecting a 6.4% decrease compared to September 2007. Byelorussia and Uzbekistan reported the largest increases (+7.2% and +7.4%, respectively) and The Ukraine and Moldova reported the largest decreases (–29.3% and –28.0%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 8.6% of the total reported world production in September 2008, compared to 9.2% in August.
 
North American production totaled 10.9 million tonnes in September, virtually unchanged in comparison to September 2007. Comparing September 2008 to September 2007, the largest percentage increase was recorded in Guatemala (+35.6%), while production fell by 20.6% in Trinidad and Tobago and by 5.3% in Cuba. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 10.1% of the total reported world production in September 2008, down from 10.4% in August.
 
South American production for September 2008 totaled 4.3 million tonnes, a 4.7% increase compared to September 2007. The largest percentage increases took effect in Paraguay (+35.6%), Peru (+10.6%), and Chile (+10.2%), while Columbia (-8.7%) logged the greatest percentage decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 4.0% of the total reported world production in September 2008, unchanged from 4.0% in August.
 
Production in Africa totaled 1.46 million tonnes in September 2008, a 7.9% decrease compared to September 2007. Comparing September 2008 to September 2007, Egypt reported a small (+2.6%) increase, while Algeria and Morocco reported the largest decreases (-78.0% and -19.2%, respectively) over the period. The African countries contributed 1.34% of the total reported world production in September 2008, virtually unchanged from 1.35% in August.
 
Production in the Middle East totaled nearly 1.4 million tonnes in September 2008, a 1.7% increase compared to September 2007. Comparing September 2008 to September 2007, production increased by 44.0% in Qatar and by 10.3% in Saudi Arabia and fell by 6.4% in Iran. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in September 2008, up slightly from 1.1% in the previous month.
 
Production in Oceania totaled 0.72 million tonnes in September, a 2.3% decrease compared to September 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.67% of the total reported world production in September 2008, virtually unchanged from 0.7% in August.
 
Total world production for September fell 3.7% compared to the previous month, August 2008.