Posted on 23 Jun 2021
Crude steel production in the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) grew 16.5% on-year in May to 174.38 million tonnes, although this again came from a low Covid-19-impacted base. It was nevertheless also up 3% on April, Kallanish notes.
Chinese production rose 6.6% on-year in May to 99.45mt, while Indian output soared 47% to 9.2mt, also recovering from 8.3mt in April. Japan and South Korea output rose 42% and an estimated 10.5% respectively on-year to 8.4mt and 5.95mt. In Japan’s case this was also a notable recovery from 7.8mt a month earlier. Vietnamese output rose an estimated 48.5% on-year to 1.95mt.
EU27 crude steel output rose 33% on-year in May to 13.5mt, also recovering from 12.95mt a month earlier. German and Italian output grew an estimated 35.5% and confirmed 18.8% respectively on-year to 3.48mt and 2.21mt. Spanish and French output rose an estimated 66% and confirmed 53% respectively to 1.33mt and 1.2mt.
The UK saw output at an estimated 665,000t, up 16% on-year.
Turkish production meanwhile rose 42% to 3.24mt, but was down slightly from April.
US production rose for the third consecutive month after many months of decline, by 48% on-year in May to 7.25mt, also up slightly from April. Brazil output surged 40% on-year to 3.16mt, also slightly up from April.
CIS production rose 15% on-year to 9.13mt, with Russian output estimated to have risen 14% to 6.56mt and Ukrainian confirmed up 13% to 1.85mt.
Global crude steel production in January-May thus grew 16.5% on-year to 174.38mt.
Source:Kallanish
