China produced 79.5 million tonnes in January, accounting for 55% of world output and rising 2.3% on January, 2022. In other parts of Asia, Indian crude steel production fell 0.2% on last January, Japanese output fell 6.9%, as did South Korean output by 9.8%.
European Union crude steel production fell 15.2% on last January following a 10.2% decline in Germany. North American output fell 5.6% with US output down 6.8%. Other significant changes compared to last January include a 17.6% drop in Turkey and a 27.7% increase in Iran.
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 35% from 1,038,000 short tons in January, 2022 to 672,000 tons in January, 2023.
The product category with the largest decline January-on-January was hot rolled, where imports fell by 42%, mainly from Canada, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Serbia, and the Netherlands. Cold rolled imports fell by 40% following declines from Russia and Turkey, while hot dip galvanized imports fell 27% due to lower volumes from Vietnam, Turkey, and South Africa.
US flat products import licenses
January 2016 to January 2023
Short tons
Hot steel slab being rolled at Nucor Steel Berkeley in South Carolina from Worldsteel Image Library
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 77.9 million metric tonnes in December, 9.8% lower than in December, 2021. Chinese crude steel output in 2022 was 1,013 million tonnes, 2.3% lower than in 2021. China accounted for 55% of world crude steel production in 2022.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in December at 4.7 million tonnes, 17% higher than in December, 2021. On a full-year basis, China’s 2022 net finished steel exports were 8% higher than in 2021.
Worldsteel published December, 2022 and full-year 2022 world crude steel production today. World steel output was 140.7 million metric tonnes in December, 10.8% lower than in December, 2021 for the 64 reporting countries. Full-year 2022 steel production including estimates of non-reporting countries was 1,878.5 million tonnes, 4.2% lower than in full-year 2021.
China produced 1,013 million tonnes of crude steel in 2022, accounting for 54% of world output. China’s production fell 2.1% between 2021 and 2022 while production in the rest of the world fell 6.5%. Asian output outside of China showed a 2.9% decline between 2021 and 2022 with India +5.5%, Japan -7.4% and South Korea -6.5%.
Crude steel production in the European Union 27 countries fell 10.5% between 2021 and 2022 with Germany output -8.4% and Italian production -11.6%. In North America, crude steel production fell 5.5% with production in the US -5.9%, in Canada -7.8%, and Mexico -1.6%.
Other significant changes in the top-10 world producing countries include declines in Russia (-7.2%), Turkey (-12.9%), and Brazil (-5.8%), but an increase in Iran (+8.0%).
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports stayed flat in December, 2022 compared to December, 2021 at 268,000 short tons. A decline in Wire Rod imports from Algeria and Egypt was offset by an increase in All Other Structural Shapes and Rebar imports.
US long products imports for the full year 2022 were 16% higher than in 2021 with the highest volume increase coming from Wire Rod (+22%), followed by Rebar (+9%) and Parallel Flange Sections (+28%).
US long products import licenses
January 2015 to December 2022
Short tons
Installation of rebar reinforcement for an elevator shaft at the new LIRR passenger concourse built in 2018. Photo by MTA Capital Construction Mega Projects, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports dropped 33% from 1,010,000 short tons in December, 2021 to 672,000 tons in December, 2022. The decline was mainly due to lower hot rolled imports from Mexico, Canada and Vietnam, as well as lower hot dip galvanized imports from Vietnam, Turkey and the UAE.
Based on January to November imports and December import licenses, US flat products imports in 2022 were 2% lower than in 2021 with cold rolled +17%, cut plate +4%, hot dip galvanized -5%, and hot rolled -8%.
US flat products import licenses
January 2015 to December 2022
Short tons
Steel slab being cut in the casting process at ThyssenKrupp Bruckhausen Plant, Germany from Worldsteel Image Library
