World crude steel production declines month over month in November

More than 136 million metric tons of crude steel production were produced in November 2017 by the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Brussels, which was 3.7 percent more steel than was produced in November 2016.

China’s crude steel production continued to eclipse that of the other reporting countries. In November 2017 the country produced 66.2 million metric tons, an increase of 2.2 percent compared with November 2016.

Crude steel production in Japan also increased, though more modestly, in November 2017. At 8.7 million metric tons, the country produced 1 percent more crude steel than it did in November 2016.

The U.S. produced 6.7 million metric tons of crude steel in November 2017, an increase of 8.5 percent compared with November 2016.

Production in the European Union varied, with Spain seeing an 18 percent increase in November 2017 compared with the previous year. The country produced 1.3 million metric tons. Italy produced more crude steel at 2.2 million metric tons, which was a 3.3 percent increase relative to November 2016. France, however, saw production decline by 8.7 percent in November 2017 compared with the previous year. The country produced 1.2 million metric tons of crude steel in November 2017.

Turkey’s crude steel production for November 2017 was 3.1 million metric tons, which was 7 percent greater than in November 2016.

In Latin America, Brazil produced 3 million metric tons of steel in November, a 15.3 percent increase compared with November 2016.

The crude steel capacity utilization ratio of the 66 countries in November 2017 was 70.7 percent. This is 1.5 percentage points higher than November 2016. However, compared with October 2017, it is 2.2 percentage points lower.