Global Steel Output Down 8 Percent in 2009

World crude steel production totaled 1.22 billion metric tons last year, marking a decrease of 8 percent compared to 2008, according to figures compiled by the Brussels, Belgium-based World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
 
Steel production declined in most major steel producing countries in Europe, North America and South America in 2009. Contrarily, China, India and the Middle East region in Asia showed positive growth in 2009.

China’s crude steel production in 2009 reached 568 million metric tons, an increase of 13.5 percent vs. 2008. The output, which is a record annual crude steel production figure for a single country in a single year, meant that steel mills in China produced close to half (47 percent) of the world’s steel in 2009.

Asia produced 795 million metric tons of steel in 2009, roughly 65 percent of the world’s total.

The European Union’s (EU) 27 nations recorded a decrease of nearly 30 percent less steel manufactured, compared to 2008. The situation was similar in North America where 82 million metric tons of steel were produced, marking a decrease of 34 percent compared to 2008.

The CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, or much of the former Soviet Union) showed a decrease of 15 percent less production in 2009 compared to the year before.

The year ended on a down note, as December 2009 world crude steel output stalled, compared to the month before. After monthly steel output climbed throughout most of 2009, the December figure of 106.4 million metric tons produced was down slightly from the 107 million tons made in November of 2009.

Europe’s figures were down most sharply, as the EU went from producing 14 million metric tons of steel in December to just 12.2 million metric tons in November.