World crude steel production posts incremental gain in January

World crude steel production in January 2018 for the 64 countries reporting to the Brussels-based World Steel Association (Worldsteel) was 139.4 million metric tons, a 0.8 percent increase compared with January 2017, the association notes.

Charts courtesy of Worldsteel

China again led the way in terms of crude steel production. The country produced 67 million metric tons in January 2018, a decrease of 0.9 percent compared with January 2017. Japan produced 9 million metric tons of crude steel for the month, an increase of 0.3 percent from January 2017. India produced 9 million metric tons of crude steel during the month, an increase of 2.5 percent from January 2017.

The U.S. produced 6.8 million metric tons of crude steel in January 2018, a 2.2 percent decrease from January 2017.

 

At 3.2 million metric tons, Turkey’s crude steel production in January 2018 increased by 7.6 percent compared with January 2017.

Brazil’s crude steel production for January 2018 was 2.9 million metric tons, an increase of 1.3 percent compared with January 2017.

In the European Union, Italy’s crude steel production for January 2018 was 2 million metric tons, for an increase of 5.3 percent compared with January 2017. France produced 1.4 million metric tons of crude steel, a 3 percent increase compared with the previous year. Spain produced 1.1 million metric tons, a 1 percent decrease relative to January 2017.

The crude steel capacity utilization ratio of the 64 countries in January 2018 was 70 percent, or 0.2 percentage points lower than in January 2017. Compared with December 2017, it is 0.7 percentage points higher, Worldsteel reports.