World crude steel output increases by 15% in 2010

21 Jan 2011 by World Steel Association

Brussels - World crude steel production reached 1,414 million metric tons (mmt) for the year of 2010. This is an increase of 15% compared to 2009 and is a new record for global crude steel production.

All the major steel-producing countries and regions showed double-digit growth in 2010. The EU and North America had higher growth rates due to the lower base effect from 2009 while Asia and the CIS recorded relatively lower growth.

In December 2010, world crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 116.2 mmt, an increase of 7.8% compared to December 2009. The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 66 countries in December 2010 declined slightly to 73.8% compared to 75.2% in November 2010. Compared to December 2009, the utilisation ratio in December 2010 is 1.1 percentage point higher.

Figure 1: Annual crude steel production

Figure 2: Crude steel production annual growth trend

Annual production for Asia was 881.2 mmt of crude steel in 2010, an increase of 11.8% compared to 2009. Its share of world steel production increased to 65.5% in 2010 from 63.5% in 2009. China's crude steel production in 2010 reached 626.7 mmt, an increase of 9.3% on 2009. China's share of world crude steel production declined from 46.7% in 2009 to 44.3% in 2010. Japan produced 109.6 mmt in 2009, 25.2% higher than 2009. In 2010, South Korea's crude steel production was 58.5 mmt, a 20.3% growth compared to 2009.

The EU recorded an increase of 24.5% compared to 2009, producing 172.9 mmt of crude steel in 2010. However, crude steel production in the UK and Greece continued to decline in 2010.

In 2010, crude steel production in North America was 111.8 mmt, an increase of 35.7% on 2009. The US produced 80.6 mmt of crude steel, 38.5% higher than 2009.

The CIS showed an increase of 11.2% in 2010, producing 108.4 mmt of crude steel. Russia produced 67 mmt of crude steel, an 11.7% increase on 2009 and Ukraine recorded an increase of 12.4% with a year-end figure of 33.6 mmt.

Figure 3: Share of world crude steel production 2009, 2010

Rank	Country	2010	2009	%2010/2009
1	China	626.7	573.6	9.3
2	Japan	109.6	87.5	25.2
3	US	80.6	58.2	38.5
4	Russia	67.0	60.0	11.7
5	India	66.8	62.8	6.4
6	South Korea	58.5	48.6	20.3
7	Germany	43.8	32.7	34.1
8	Ukraine	33.6	29.9	12.4
9	Brazil	32.8	26.5	23.8
10	Turkey	29.0	25.3	14.6

Figure 4: Steel capacity utilisation ratio