BIR releases updated ferrous scrap statistics

The Ferrous Division of the Brussels-based Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has released the seventh edition of its “World Steel Recycling in Figures” publication. The book was distributed to BIR delegates at its 2016 World Recycling Convention in Berlin in late May.

The newest version of the 42-page booklet, which offers data from the five-year period of 2011-2015, includes additional information about the scrap and steel markets in Turkey, Ukraine and Hong Kong.

Rolf Willeke, statistics advisor to the BIR Ferrous Division, says 2015 witnessed a decrease in ferrous scrap use in several major nations and regions, including: the United States (-8.9%); Turkey (-7.5%); China (-4.8%); South Korea (-8.3%); and Russia (-10.4%).

The amount of steel made globally via the scrap-intensive electric arc furnace (EAF) process dropped to 403 million tonnes in 2015, continuing to slide down from 449 million tonnes in 2011 and 427 million tonnes in 2013. The EAF share of global steel production has fallen from 29.2% in 2011 to 24.85% in 2015.

China, the world’s largest steel producer, remains particularly low on EAF production, with just 6.1% of its steel made that way in 2015.

The world’s largest ferrous scrap importing nation in 2015 was Turkey, with 16.25 million tonnes. That figure, however, is down by 14.8% compared to the 19 million tonnes it imported in 2014.

The leading ferrous scrap exporter was the EU at 13.7 million tonnes, followed by the United States at just under 13 million tonnes. The volume exported by the EU, however, fell by 18.9% compared to 2014 while U.S. exports dropped 15.4%.

Willeke called 2015 “a difficult year, but the ferrous scrap used worldwide by mills and foundries remains ecologically sound and beneficial as a raw material,” he stated.

The 2016 BIR World Recycling Convention was May 29-June 1 at the InterContinental Hotel in Berlin.