Global crude steel production declines year over year in May

In May, world crude steel production declined by 8.7 percent relative to May 2019 for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel). The Brussels-based association says 148.8 million metric tons of crude steel were produced this past May compared with 163 million metric tons last May. However, Worldsteel adds that because of the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of May’s figures are estimates that may be revised with next month’s production update.

Production in China reduced the effect of largely declining production globally in May. China made 92.3 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2020, an increase of 4.2 percent compared with May 2019.

In other parts of Asia, steel production declined significantly. Japan produced 5.9 million metric tons of crude steel in May, a 31.8 percent decline compared with May 2019. India produced 5.8 million metric tons of crude steel in May, 39.1 percent less than it made in May 2019. South Korea produced 5.4 million metric tons, down by 14.1 percent relative to May 2019.

Production in the European Union is estimated to be 10.5 million metric tons, 26.8 percent less than in May 2019. Steel production in Italy declined 43.6 percent to 1.25 million metric tons in May of this year compared with the 2.22 million metric tons the country produced in May of last year. Spain saw its production decline 33.7 percent from 1.26 million metric tons in May 2019 to 833,000 metric tons this year.

The United States produced 4.8 metric tons of crude steel in May, 36.6 percent less than in May 2019. Its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, produced an estimated 830,000 tons and 1.45 million tons of crude steel in May, respectively. This is a 19.6 percent reduction for Canada and a 13.2 percent reduction for Mexico compared with May 2019.

Production in the C.I.S. is estimated to be 8.2 million metric tons for the month, according to Worldsteel, which is a 7.6 percent reduction from May 2019. Ukraine produced 1.6 million metric tons of crude steel in May of this year, down 10.4 percent from May 2019.

Brazil produced 2.2 million metric tons of crude steel in May, or 22.6 percent less than it produced in May 2019.

Turkey produced 2.3 million metric tons of crude steel in May, which was 25.8 percent less than in May 2019.