World crude steel production saw 4% hike in March

30th APril 2018

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 148.3 million tonnes (Mt) in March 2018, a 4.0% increase compared to March 2017.

World crude steel production was 426.6 Mt in the first three months of 2018, up by 4.1% compared to the same period in 2017. Asia produced 294.1 Mt of crude steel, an increase of 4.6% over the first quarter of 2017. The EU produced 43.1 Mt of crude steel in the first quarter of 2018, up by 0.9% compared to the same quarter of 2017. North America’s crude steel production in the first three months of 2018 was 29.5 Mt, an increase of 1.9% compared to the first quarter of 2017.

China’s crude steel production for March 2018 was 74.0 Mt, an increase of 4.5% compared to March 2017. India produced 9.2 Mt of crude steel in March 2018, up 5.3% on March 2017. Japan produced 9.1 Mt of crude steel in March 2018, an increase of 2.2% compared to March 2017. South Korea’s crude steel production was 6.1 Mt in March 2018, an increase of 4.7% on March 2017.

In the EU, Italy produced 2.3 Mt of crude steel, up by 1.0% on March 2017. France produced 1.4 Mt of crude steel, up by 1.5% compared to March 2017. Spain produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel, down by 4.1% on March 2017.

Turkey’s crude steel production for March 2018 was 3.4 Mt, up by 7.6% on March 2017.

The US produced 7.3 Mt of crude steel in March 2018, an increase of 5.3% compared to March 2017.

Brazil’s crude steel production for March 2018 was 3.1 Mt, up by 7.6% on March 2017.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries in March 2018 was 74.5%. This is 2.2 percentage points higher than March 2017. Compared to February 2018, it is 0.9 percentage points higher.

Source: WORLD STEEL ASSOCIATION