Steel Production Keeps Increasing

Steel production remains strong domestically and abroad.

Domestic raw steel production was up 4.4 percent for the year-to-date through March 25, according to American Iron and Steel Institute statistics. Capability utilization was at 73.4 percent compared with 71.3 percent a year ago.

World crude steel production increased 4.1 percent to 126.6 million tonnes (Mt) in February from the same period in 2016, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) reported. A 4.6 percent increase in production in China contributed to the overall increase. 

The US produced -1.0 percent less, 6.4 Mt in total, of crude steel in February than it did last year. There were 29 days in February 2016.

Steel production increased by:

• 24.7 percent in Oceania;
• 18.2 percent in Africa;
• 15.8 percent in Other Europe countries;
• 5.7 percent in the Middle East;
• 5.1 percent in Asia; and
• 1.5 percent in South America.

Steel production was flat (0.0 percent) in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and North America. It decreased by -0.6 percent in the European Union.

Capacity utilization among the 67 countries that report to worldsteel was 70.3 percent in February, which was 4 percentage points higher than a year ago and 1.1 of a percentage point more than in January.

Year-to-date, global steel production was up 5.8 percent through February, worldsteel reported.

Photo courtesy of worldsteel