Global crude steel production in August this year decreased by three per cent year on year to 150.6 million tonnes (mt), according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel).

In August, crude steel output in Asia amounted to 112.6 mt, down by 0.2 per cent, with China’s output at 83.9 mt, up 0.5 per cent on August 2021. Japan produced 7.3 mt, decreasing by 7.4 per cent. India produced 10.2 mt, up 1.2 per cent, and South Korea produced 6.1 mt, falling by 0.4 per cent on year-on-year basis.

In the given month, Africa produced 1.3 mt of crude steel, up by 3.5 per cent year on year. In the Middle East, crude steel output totaled 3.2 mt, rising by 34.2 per cent, with Iran’s estimated output at 2.1 mt, increasing by 64.7 per cent, both year on year. The EU-27 countries produced 9.7 mt of crude steel in August, down by 13.3 per cent year on year. In the given period, Germany’s output was 2.9 mt, down 2.3 per cent, year on year.

Turkey produced 2.8 mt of crude steel in August, with a 21.0 per cent decrease compared to the same month in the previous year. The CIS registered a crude steel (crude-steel) output of 6.9 mt, dropping by 22.4 per cent on year-on-year basis, with Russia’s estimated output at 5.9 mt, down 5.5 per cent year on year.

In North America, in August, crude steel output totaled 9.6 mt, falling by 5.4 per cent, with the US producing 7.0 mt, falling by 7.1 per cent, both year on year. Crude steel output in South America in August amounted to 3.6 mt, decreasing by 10.1 per cent compared to the same month in the previous year, with Brazil’s output totaling 2.8 mt, falling by 11.3 per cent year on year.

The 64 countries reporting to worldsteel accounted for approximately 98 per cent of total world crude steel production in 2021.