World crude steel output continue declining

According to the most recent statistics published by the World Steel Association, the crude steel production by 66 member countries was 134.906 million tonnes (Mt) in April this year, down marginally by 0.5% upon comparison with production of 135.652 Mt during same month a year before.

South America

The crude steel production by South American countries dropped significantly during the month of April this year. The total monthly output tumbled by 18% to 3.029 Million tonnes.The total crude steel production by Argentina during April was 319,000 tonnes, down considerably by 16.9% than the April 2015 production of 384,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.300 Million tonnes of crude steel, down considerably by 20.6% when compared with 2.897 Million tonnes production achieved during April last year. The Chilean April crude steel production witnessed modest recovery of nearly 23% to 100,000 tonnes in April this year. The total crude steel production by Colombia was up by 44.8% to 140,000 tonnes in April this year.Ecuador’s crude steel output dropped significantly by 9% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 50,000 tonnes in April this year, down when compared with 55,000 tonnes during April last year.  Paraguay’s crude steel output declined by 17.7% during the month.The crude steel output by Peru held steady with a marginal gain of 0.6% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay dropped by 6.5% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production dropped considerably by 75.2% year-on-year from 81,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes.

North America

The crude steel production by North American countries remained flat during the month of April year-on-year. The production totaled 9.034 Mt in April this year.The total crude steel production by Canada during April this year was 1.100 Mt, dropping marginally by 1.6% when compared with the April 2015 production. The US produced 6.571 Million tonnes of crude steel, slightly higher by 2.5% when compared with 6.413 Million tonnes production achieved during April 2015. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged lower by 7.3% from 1.408 Mt in April ‘15 to 1.305 Mt in April this year.The Cuban crude steel production increased sharply by 38.2% year-on-year to 25,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 8,000 tonnes in April this year, lower by over 10% when compared with April last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in April. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero in April this year from 39,000 tonnes during same month the previous year.

Asia

The crude steel production by Asia remained more or less flat with marginal rise of 0.6% during the month of April 2016 year-on-year.The total crude steel production by China during April was 69.420 Million tonnes, rising marginally by 0.5% when compared with the production of 69.074 Mt during April 2015. India produced 7.800 Million tonnes of crude steel, marginally higher by 3.9% when compared with 7.508 Million tonnes production achieved during April last year.Japan reported 1.2% increase in monthly crude steel output during the month. Japan's crude steel output was up from 8.402 Million tonnes in April 2015 to 8.498 Million tonnes in the same month this year.South Korean crude steel production declined by 1.3% from 5.745 Million tonnes in April 2015 to 5.670 Million tonnes in April this year. Meantime, Pakistan’s crude steel output totaled 395,000 tonnes during the month.The Taiwanese Apr ‘16 crude steel output has dropped considerably by 8.3% year-on-year to 1.720 Million tonnes from 1.876 Million tonnes during same month last year. Also, Thailand,s crude steel output has dropped sharply by 17.7% from 298,000 tonnes during April last year to almost 245,000 tonnes this year.

Africa

The crude steel production by the African region tumbled by 10.2% during the month of April year-on-year.Egypt produced 410,000 tonnes of crude steel, considerably lower by 11.5% when compared to 463,000 tonnes production achieved during April 2015. Libya’s crude steel output surged higher significantly to 56,000 tonnes during the month of April this year, when matched with 47,000 tonnes produced during the same month a year before. Morocco’s output plunged by 51.5% to 30,000 tonnes, when compared to 62,000 tonnes production achieved during April 2015. South Africa’s crude steel output dropped considerably by 7.1% to 539,000 tonnes during the month when matched with the production figures of 580,000 tonnes during the same month a year before.

Other regions

The crude steel production by the Middle East region declined slightly by 2.6% during the month of April ’16 year-on-year. EU-28 region recorded 5.2% decline in crude steel output during April this year. The output by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) increased marginally by 1.5% during the month. On the other hand, Oceania region recorded 5.6% decline in output.