World crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Brussels, was 136 million metric tons in June 2015, a 2.4 percent decrease compared with June 2014.
According to Worldsteel, world crude steel production in the first six months of 2015 was 813 million metric tons, a decrease of 2 percent compared with the same period in 2014. The Middle East showed an increase of 2.9 percent, whereas North America and C.I.S. (Commonwealth of Independent States) each reported a decline of 6.9 percent in the first half of 2015. Crude steel production in Asia declined by 1.5 percent, while it increased by 0.5 percent in the EU 28. South American production remained the same in the first six months of 2015 compared with the same period of 2014, Worldsteel says.
In Asia, China’s crude steel production for June 2015 was 69 million metric tons, a 0.8 percent decrease compared with June 2014. Japan produced 8.6 million metric tons of crude steel in June 2015, a decrease of 6.2 percent compared with June 2014. India’s production was 7.4 million metric tons, up by 0.8 percent relative to June 2014. South Korea produced 5.9 million metric tons of crude steel, a decline of 3.6 percent compared with June 2014, Worldsteel reports.
In the EU, Worldsteel says, Germany produced 3.8 million metric tons of crude steel in June 2015, an increase of 5.8 percent compared with June 2014. Italy produced 1.9 million metric tons of crude steel, a decrease of 11.4 percent relative to June 2014. France’s crude steel production was 1.4 million metric tons, a decrease of 1.3 percent compared to June 2014. Spain produced 1.3 million metric tons of crude steel, a 3.3 percent decrease year on year.
Turkey’s crude steel production for June 2015 was 2.8 million metric tons, a decrease of 4.5 percent relative to June 2014.
In June 2015, Russia produced 5.6 million metric tons of crude steel, a decline of 7.5 percent compared with June 2014. Ukraine produced 2 million metric tons of crude steel, a decrease of 21.8 percent compared to the same month in 2014, Worldsteel reports.
The U.S. produced 6.7 million metric tons of crude steel in June 2015, down by 8.5 percent compared with June 2014.
Brazil’s crude steel production for June 2015 was 2.8 million metric tons, a 2.1 percent increase relative to June 2014.
According to Worldsteel, the crude steel capacity utilization ratio for the 65 countries in June 2015 was 72.2 percent. This is decrease of 3.5 percentage points compared with June 2014. Compared with May 2015, it is 0.1 percentage points higher.