Stainless steel enjoys output boost in first half of 2014

The Brussels-based International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) says stainless steel melt shop production in the first half of 2014 increased by 10.6 percent year on year from 2013.

Total global production of 20.9 million metric tons in the first half of 2014 is up 2 million metric tons compared with the 18.9 million metric tons of output in the comparable period of 2013.

The ISSF says production increased in all parts of the world except for Central and Eastern Europe. Production in China grew by 16.7 percent, followed closely by an output boost in North and South America of 16 percent.

Stainless steelmakers in Western Europe and Africa produced 4 percent more steel in the first half of 2014 compared with the year before, while production in Central and Eastern Europe fell by 5.4 percent, according to the ISSF.