Global steel production fell in August despite China's recovery

Crude steel production in the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) decreased in August for the 13th month in a row compared to the same period last year by 3% to 150.55 million tons. India continued to resist this trend, but its production grew more slowly, while China's production rose for the first time in months.

Production in China increased by 0.5% year on year to 83.87 million tons, while production in India rose by 1.2% to 10.2 million tons. Production in Japan and South Korea fell by 7.4% and 0.4%, respectively, to 7.34 million tons and an estimated 6.08 million tons.

Production in the EU-27 countries fell in August by 13.3% compared to the same period last year to 9.71 million tons, while production in Germany and Italy decreased by 2.3% and 42%, respectively, to 2.87 million tons and 732,000 tons. In France and Spain, production fell by 11% and 29%, respectively, to 876,000 tons and 786,000 tons.

Production in Turkey fell by 21% to 2.79 million tons.

U.S. crude steel production fell 7% to 6.99 million tonnes in August, while Brazilian production fell 11% to 2.84 million tonnes.

Production in Russia is estimated to have fallen 5.5% to 5.9 million tons, while production in Ukraine fell 80% to 366,000 tons.

Thus, the world production of crude steel in January-August fell by 5% compared to the same period last year to 1.25 billion tons.