China Remains Steel Hot Spot

World crude steel production for the 61 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute, Brussels, was estimated to be 90.3 million metric tons in July, with China accounting for nearly one-third of that total.

The global figure for July is 4.5 percent higher than for the same month of 2004. Chinese production was 29.2 million metric tons in July, a rise of 28.6 percent compared to July 2004. Total crude steel production in China is 193.8 million metric tons for the first seven months of 2005. This is a rise of 28.1 percent compared to the same period of 2004.

Crude steel production in the United States was 7.6 million metric tons in July, representing a decrease of 9.1 percent compared to July 2004. Year-to-date production in the United States is 54.5 million metric tons, 4.7 percent lower than for the first seven months of 2004. Production in Canada was 1.1 million metric tons, 13.8 percent lower than in July 2004. Total Canadian production for the first seven months of the year is 9.2 million metric tons, 2.7 percent lower than for the same period last year.