Global stainless steel melt shop production increased 10.6% year-on-year to 20.9-million tons in the first half of 2014, the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) revealed on Thursday.
Production increased in all regions, except for Central and Eastern Europe, which recorded a year-on-year decline of 5.4% to 143 000 t.
China and the Americas saw the largest year-on-year increases at 16.7% and 16% respectively.
China, which provides about one-half of the world’s stainless steel, produced 10.69-million tons during the first half of this year, while the Americas produced 1.39-million tons.
Half-year production in Western Europe and Africa increased by 4% year-on-year to 4.27-million tons; however, second quarter output was 2.3% lower on a quarter-on-quarter basis, the ISSF said.
Meanwhile, Asia – excluding China – increased its production 3% year-on-year to 4.45-million tons.