Crude steel production sees slight increase in May

World crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel) was 143.3 million metric tons in May 2017, a 2 percent increase compared with May 2016, according to the association. 

China’s crude steel production for May 2017 was 72.3 million metric tons, an increase of 1.8 percent compared with May 2016. Japan produced 9 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, an increase of 0.1 percent compared with May 2016.

In the EU, France was the only country that reports to Worldsteel that posted an increase in production. The country’s steelmakers produced 1.4 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, an increase of 21.5 percent compared with May of the previous year.

Germany, Italy and Spain each posted decreased production for the month, according to Worldsteel. Germany produced 3.8 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, a decrease of 1.4 percent compared with May 2016. Spain produced 1.2 million metric tons of crude steel, a decrease of 3.7 percent compared with May 2016. Italy produced 2.1 million metric tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.1 percent.

Brazil also saw its crude steel production increase in May 2017. The country produced 2.9 million metric tons, which was 13.2 percent more crude steel than it produced in May 2016.

At 3.3 million metric tons, Turkey’s May 2017 production also increased 9.7 percent relative to May 2016 to 3.3 million metric tons, Worldsteel reports.

The U.S. produced 7 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, a year-on-year increase of 0.2 percent.

Worldsteel says the crude steel capacity utilization ratio of the 67 countries in May 2017 was 71.8 percent. This is 0.5 percentage points higher than May 2016, though it is 1.8 percentage points lower than in April 2017.

Worldsteel calculates the monthly crude steel capacity utilization ratio based on crude steel production information available at Worldsteel and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) capacity estimates.