World Steel Production Continues to Fall in October 2008
12/22/2008 - Figures released by the World Steel Association International show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 100.5 million tonnes in October 2008 — 12.4% lower than for the same month of 2007, and 6.9% lower than the previous month, September 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 100.5 million tonnes in October 2008 — 12.4% lower than for the same month of 2007, and 6.9% lower than the previous month (September 2008).
A significant factor in the lower total production vs. September was a 17.0% drop in production over the period for China, which contributed 35.4% of the October crude steel production total. Excluding China’s production, world production fell by 9.6% in October 2008 compared to October 2007, and fell by 5.4% in from the previous month (September 2008).
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World Steel Production, Oct. '08
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Region
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% of Oct. '08 Total
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Change vs. Oct. '07
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EU (27)
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16.6%
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-5.7%
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Other EU
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2.1%
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-16.9%
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CIS
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7.0%
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-32.6%
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N. America
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9.9%
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-12.9%
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S. America
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4.1%
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-0.8%
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Africa
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1.31%
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-13.6%
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Middle East
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1.32%
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-4.2%
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Asia
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56.1%
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-11.6%
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Oceania
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0.7%
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-7.8%
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World
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--
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-12.4%
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For the ten nine months of 2008, total world crude steel production reached 1136.24 million tonnes, a 2.9% increase over the first ten months of 2007. Of that 1136-million-tonne ten-month total, China produced 427.29 million tonnes of crude steel (37.6% of the ten-month total). China’s ten-month total reflects a 3.9% increase compared to the same period in 2007.
Weighing in at 56.1% of total world production for October 2008, production in Asia stood at 56.93 million tonnes in October, 11.6% lower than in October 2007. Representing 35.36% of world production for October, Chinese production was reported at 35.90 million tonnes in October, a 17.0% decrease compared to October 2007, and a 9.4% fall compared to the previous month (September 2008).
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 16.8 million tonnes of crude steel in October, down 5.7% from October 2007. Comparing October 2008 to October 2007, crude steel production increased by 52.6% in Slovenia, 18.1% in Finlandand 16.1% in France, but fell by 27.5% in the Czech Republic and by 24.5% in Slovakia. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 16.6% of the total reported world production in October 2008, compared to 16.1% in September.
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.1 million tonnes in October, a decrease of 16.9% compared to October 2007. Croatiashowed the largest increases (+64.3%), while production fell by 17.9% in Norway and Switzerland, and by 17.8% in Turkey. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.1% of the total reported world production in October 2008, compared to 2.3% in September.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 7.1 million tonnes in October, reflecting a sizeable 32.6% decrease compared to October 2007. Moldova and Byelorussia reported the largest increases (+24.2% and +13.1%, respectively) and The Ukraine and Russia reported the largest decreases (–48.7% and –27.1%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 7.0% of the total reported world production in October 2008, compared to 8.6% in September.
North American production totaled 10.0 million tonnes in October, a 12.9% decrease in comparison to October 2007. Comparing October 2008 to October 2007, the largest percentage increase was recorded in Canada (+9.5%), while production fell by 18.5% in Trinidad and Tobago and by 16.8% in the United States. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 9.9% of the total reported world production in October 2008, down from 10.1% in September.
South American production for October 2008 totaled 4.2 million tonnes, a slight (0.8%) decrease compared to October 2007. The largest percentage increases took effect in Peru (+21.0%), and Ecuador (+18.6%), while Chile (-10.9%) and Paraguay (-10.3%) logged the greatest percentage decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 4.1% of the total reported world production in October 2008, virtually unchanged from 3.9% in September.
Production in Africa totaled 1.33 million tonnes in October 2008, a 13.6% decrease compared to October 2007. Comparing October 2008 to October 2007, Libya reported the largest (+21.3%) increase, while Algeria and South Africa reported the largest decreases (-50.2% and -17.4%, respectively) over the period. The African countries contributed 1.31% of the total reported world production in October 2008, virtually unchanged from 1.34% in September.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.34 million tonnes in October 2008, a 4.2% decrease compared to October 2007. Comparing October 2008 to October 2007, production increased by 26.8% in Qatar and fell by 8.4% and 5.7% in Saudi Arabia and Iran, respectively. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in October 2008, virtually unchanged from 1.3% in the previous month.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.69 million tonnes in October, a 7.6% decrease compared to October 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.67% of the total reported world production in October 2008, unchanged from 0.67% in September.
Total world production for October fell 6.9% compared to the previous month, September 2008.
