Global crude steel production fell 6% to 147.1 million tonnes in March from a year earlier, data from the World Steel Association showed on Wednesday, as the coronavirus crisis forced steelmaking operations to close.
However, crude steel production from China, the world's largest producer and consumer of metal, faced minor erosion of production due to the coronavirus pandemic, with production falling 1.7% in March to 79 million tonnes.
But other regions like Europe and Japan have been hit hard by falling demand from automakers and construction projects.
Steel production in the European Union fell 20.4% to 12 million tonnes in March, while production in North America fell 9.4% to 9.7 million tonnes.
In Asia, production in Japan fell 9.7% in March to 8.2 million tons, while India reported a 13.9% decline to 8.7 million tons.
The Steel Association, whose members account for about 85% of global steel production, warned that the numbers were preliminary.
“Due to the ongoing difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, many of this month's numbers are estimates by national and regional associations that could be revised with a production update next month,” the statement said.
World steel production in March fell by 6%
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Azovpromstal® 23 April 2020 г. 12:55 |
