World steel production in March and Q1 2017

In March 2017, the global steel production of 67 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) amounted to 145.0 million tons, which is 4.6% more compared to March 2016.

Global steel production in the first three months of 2017 was 410.5 million tonnes, up 5.7% from the same period in 2016. Asia produced 280.6 million tonnes of steel, 5.4% more than in the first quarter of 2016. 42.5 million North American steel production in the first three months of 2017 was 29.3 million tonnes, up 7.1% from the first quarter. In the first three months of 2017, the CIS produced 25.9 million tons of steel, which is 4.0% more compared to the same period in 2016.

Steel production in China in March 2017 amounted to 72.0 million tons, which is 1.8% higher than in March 2016. Japan produced 8.9 million tonnes of steel in March 2017, up 1.8% from March 2016.

In the EU region, Germany produced 3.9 million tonnes of steel in March 2017, up 1.9% from March 2016. Italy produced 2.2 million tons of steel, which is 9.5% more than in March 2016. Spain produced 1.4 million tons of steel, which is 15.7% higher than in March 2016. France produced 1.3 million tons of steel, which is 18.1% more than in March 2016.

Turkey's steel production in March 2017 amounted to 3.1 million tons, which is 14.0% higher than in March 2016. The United States produced 7.0 million tonnes of steel in March 2017, increasing output by 3.4% compared to March 2016. Brazilian steel production in March 2017 was 2.9 million tonnes, up 13.7% from March 2016.

The utilization rate of production facilities in 67 countries of the world in March 2017 amounted to 72.7%. This is 2.2 percentage points higher than in March 2016. Compared to February 2017, it is 2.0 percentage points higher.