World crude steel production reached just under 1.7-billion tonnes at the close of 2014 – up by 1.2% from 2013 figures, says steel industry association body the World Steel Association (worldsteel) adding that, last year, the Middle East, which is the smallest region in the world for crude steel production, had the most robust growth.
Crude steel production among European Union (EU) member countries, together with North America and Asia, grew modestly in 2014, compared with the previous year, while production decreased in South America and in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Production in Asia was 1.1-billion tonnes of crude steel in 2014, an increase of 1.4%, compared with 2013. China’s crude steel production in 2014 reached 822.7-million tonnes, an increase of 0.9% on 2013, while the East Asian nation’s share of world crude steel production decreased slightly from 49.7% in 2013 to 49.5% in 2013.
Meanwhile, Japan produced 110.7-million tonnes in 2014, increasing by 0.1% on the previous year’s total. South Korea’s crude steel production ended at 71-million tonnes last year, increasing 7.5% on 2013 results.
The EU recorded an increase of 1.7%, compared with 2013, having produced 169.2-million tonnes of crude steel in 2014. Germany produced 42.9-million tonnes of crude steel in 2014, up by 0.7% on 2013. Italy’s production decreased year-on-year by 1.4% last year, closing 2014 with 23.7-million tonnes of crude steel production. France’s crude steel production in 2014 was 16.1-million tonnes, an increase of 2.9%. Spain produced 14.2-million tonnes of crude steel in 2014, decreasing by 0.6%, compared with 2013.
North American crude steel production increased by 2% year-on-year, producing 121.2-million tonnes last year. The US produced 88.3-million tonnes of crude steel in 2014, up by 1.7%, compared with the previous year.
In December 2014, world crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to worldsteel was 133.7-million tonnes, an increase of 0.1%, compared with December 2013. The crude steel capacity-use ratio of the 65 countries in December 2014 was 72.7% – 2.4 percentage points lower than in December 2013. The average capacity use in 2014 was 76.7%, compared with 78.4% in 2013.
The total yearly global and regional production figures in this report included estimates of other countries that only report yearly. The monthly crude steel statistics available on worldsteel’s website every month show figures from the 65 countries reporting to the organisation on a monthly basis.
The monthly crude steel capacity-use ratio is calculated on the basis of on crude steel production and capacity information available from worldsteel. The capacity information is based on publicly available data, updated twice yearly and verified through worldsteel’s membership.