Global crude steel production reached 1.81-billion tonnes in 2018 – 4.6% year-on-year increase, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) reported on Friday.
Worldsteel pointed out that crude steel production had increased in all regions, except for the European Union (EU), which recorded a 0.3% contraction.
Asia produced 1.27-billion tonnes – an increase of 5.6% compared with that of 2017.
China’s crude steel production reached 928.3-million tonnes, representing a 6.6% year-on-year increase.
India’s crude steel production increased by 4.9% year-on-year to 106.5-million tonnes, with the country surpassing Japan to become the world’s second largest steel producing country.
Japan produced 104.3-million tonnes of crude steel.
The EU produced 168.1-million tonnes of crude steel, while production in North America increased by 4.1% year-on-year to 120.5-million tonnes.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth of Independent States produced 101.3-million tonnes of crude steel, while output in South America increased by 1.3% year-on-year to 44.3-million tonnes.
The Middle East produced 38.5-million tonnes – an increase of 11.7% on that produced in 2017.
Africa’s crude steel output rose by 7.2% year-on-year to 16.1-million tonnes. South Africa’s production increased by only 0.4% year-on-year to 6.33-million tonnes.