World Steel Association (worldsteel), the international trade body for the iron and steel industry, reported that the crude steel production for the 67 member countries was at 142.1 million tonnes (mt) in April of this year, a 5.0 per cent increase compared to April 2016.

China’s crude steel production for April 2017 was 72.8 mt, an increase of 4.9 per cent compared to April 2016, said a statement from the worldsteel.

Japan produced 8.8 mt of crude steel in April 2017, an increase of 3.0 per cent compared to April 2016. South Korea’s crude steel production for April 2017 was 5.5 mt, a decrease of -2.9 per cent compared to April 2016, it said.

In the European Union (EU), Germany produced 3.9 mt of crude steel in April 2017, an increase of 8.1 per cent compared to April 2016. Italy produced 2.0 mt of crude steel, down by -6.0 per cent on April 2016, it added.

France produced 1.3 mt of crude steel, up by 30.8 per cent compared to April 2016. Spain produced 1.2 mt of crude steel, down by -2.8 per cent on April 2016.

Turkey’s crude steel production for April 2017 was 3.0 mt, up by 6.5 per cent on April 2016.

The US produced 6.7 mt of crude steel in April 2017, an increase of 1.8 per cent compared to April 2016.

Brazil’s crude steel production for April 2017 was 2.9 mt, up by 25.9 per cent on April 2016.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 67 countries in April 2017 was 73.6 per cent. This is 2.5 percentage points higher than April 2016. Compared to March 2017, it is 1.7 percentage points higher.

The monthly crude steel capacity utilisation ratio is calculated based on crude steel production information available at worldsteel and OECD capacity estimates, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service