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Global crude steel production decreased by 2.9% year-on-year to 133-million tonnes in January, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) said on Friday.
Of the 65 countries reporting to the association, China had the highest crude steel production for the month, with 65.5-million tonnes, a 4.7% decrease compared with January 2013. Japan produced nine-million tonnes, a 4% year-on-year decrease.
In the European Union, Germany recorded a 0.5% year-on-year increase, producing 3.7-million tonnes, while Italy’s output dropped by 11.3% to 1.9-million tonnes. France’s crude steel production fell by 10.6% year-on-year to 1.3-million tonnes, while Spain achieved an 11.8% increase to 1.3-million tonnes.
Turkey’s crude steel production contracted by 10.4% to 2.6-million tonnes, Russia’s production increased by 6% to 6.1-million tonnes and Ukraine, which had been plagued by conflict, reported a 25.2% drop to 1.9-million tonnes in January.
The US and Brazil both experienced growth, with steel production rising by 0.4% and 7.7% to 7.4-million tonnes and three-million tonnes respectively.
Africa’s production totalled 1.2-million tonnes, a 3% contraction year-on-year. Production was led by Egypt, reporting an 11.6% increase to 605 000 t, while Morocco’s production fell 82.7% year-on-year to 10 000 t.
South Africa’s production contracted by 9.6% to 550 000 t.
The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio for the 65 countries in January was 72.5% – 4.4 percentage points lower than in January 2014 and 0.4 percentage points lower than December 2014.