World steel production increases in September

Crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Brussels, was estimated to be 156.4 million metric tons in September, which was 2.9 percent more than in September 2019. Because of complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, however, many of this month’s figures are estimates that may be revised with next month’s production update, Worldsteel says.

World crude steel production was 1,347.4 million metric tons in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of 3.2 percent compared with the same period in 2019. Asia, led by China, produced 1,001.7 million metric tons of crude steel in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of 0.2 percent over the same period of 2019.

The EU produced 99.4 million metric tons of crude steel in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of 17.9 percent compared with the first nine months of 2019, according to Worldsteel.

The C.I.S. produced 74.3 million metric tons of crude steel in the first nine months of 2020, 2.5 percent less than in the same period in 2019.

North America produced 74 million metric tons of crude steel in the first nine months of 2020, 18.2 percent less steel than it produced in the first nine months of 2019. Canada’s nine-month total crude steel production was 8.02 million metric tons, 18.3 percent less than in the first nine months of 2019, while Mexico produced about 12.22 million metric tons, or 13.6 percent less than in the first nine months of 2019.

In the month of September, Worldsteel reports that China produced 92.6 million metric tons of crude steel in September, which was 10.9 percent more steel than it produced in September 2019. Also in Asia, India produced 8.5 million metric tons of crude steel in September, which was 2.9 percent less than in September 2019. Japan produced 6.5 million metric tons of crude steel in September, 19.3 percent less than in September 2019, which South Korea’s crude steel production for the month was 5.8 million metric tons, a 2.1 percent increase from September 2019.

In Europe, Germany produced 3 million metric tons of crude steel in September, which was 9.7 percent less than in September 2019. Italy produced 1.8 million metric tons of crude steel in September, 18.7 percent less than in September 2019. France produced 1 million metric tons of crude steel in September, a decrease of 20.1 percent compared with September 2019. Spain produced 0.9 million metric tons of crude steel in September of this year, which was 20.7 percent less than in September 2019.

Worldsteel says production in the C.I.S. is estimated to be 8.2 million metric tons in September, down 0.3 percent from September 2019, while Ukraine produced 1.7 million metric tons of crude steel in September, 5.4 percent less than in September 2019.

The United States produced 5.7 million metric tons of crude steel in September, which was 18.5 percent less than the country produced in September 2019. Canada’s estimated production was 780,000 metric tons for the month, 27.6 percent less than in September 2019, while Mexico’s estimated production was 1.4 million metric tons, or 3.9 percent less than in September of last year.

Turkey’s crude steel production for September was 3.2 million metric tons, up by 18 percent from September 2019, according to Worldsteel.

Brazil produced 2.6 million metric tons of crude steel in September, up 7.5 percent from September 2019.