Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 74.5 million metric tonnes in November, 7.3% higher than in November, 2021. Chinese production in the first eleven months of 2022 was 1.6% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show China’s net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) at 4.8 million tonnes in November, 65% higher than in November, 2021. Net finished steel exports over the first eleven months of 2022 were 7.3% higher than in the first eleven months of 2021.
China produced 74.5 million tonnes this November, accounting for 54% of world output and rising 7.3% on last November. In contrast, world crude steel production outside China was 64.7 million tonnes, declining 12.0% on November, 2021.
The countries outside China which contributed most to this decline include Turkey (-30.7%), South Korea (-18.1%), Japan (-10.7%) and the US (-10.5%).
World crude steel production in the first eleven months of 2022 was approximately 3% lower than in the same period last year while China’s output fell 1.6%.
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 36% from 375,000 short tons in November, 2021 to 240,000 tons last month. The decline was mainly due to lower rebar imports from Algeria and Spain, as well as lower wire rod imports from Algeria, Canada and Brazil.
Long products imports in the first eleven months of 2022 were 18% higher than in the same period last year with the highest volume increases coming from wire rod (+26%), rebar (+10%), and parallel flange sections (+29%).
US long products import licenses
January 2015 to November 2022
Short tons
BSW GmbH, Kehl, Germany, 20.04.2016, continuous casting of steel billets, from Worldsteel Image Library
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 36% from 1,043,000 short tons in November, 2021 to 672,000 tons in November, 2022. The decline was mainly due to lower hot rolled imports from Mexico, Japan, Turkey and Canada, as well as lower hot dip galvanized imports from Vietnam, Turkey, Brazil and Pakistan.
Based on January to October imports and November import licenses, US flat products imports in the first eleven months of 2022 were 1% higher than in the same period last year with cold rolled +19%, cut plate +7%, hot dip galvanized +1%, and hot rolled -5%.
US flat products import licenses
January 2015 to November 2022
Short tons
“Ex-CP and now Takargo owned 1552 built by MLW (Montreal Locomotive Works) roaring under hot summer sun with a heavy steel coil train from Setúbal harbor to Siderurgia Nacional.” by Nelso Silva from Porto, Portugal, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 79.8 million metric tonnes in October, 11% higher than in October, 2021. Chinese production in the first ten months of 2022 was 2.3% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show China’s net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) at 4.4 million tonnes in October, 31% higher than in October, 2021. Net finished steel exports over the first ten months of 2022 were 4% higher than in the first ten months of 2021.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
Hot steel billet descaling after furnace, Baotou Iron & Steel Group, China, from Worldsteel Image Library
China produced 79.8 million tonnes this October, accounting for 54% of world output and rising 11.0% on October, 2021. In contrast, world crude steel production outside China was 67.5 million tonnes, declining 8.4% on last October.
The countries outside China which contributed the most to this decline include Japan (-10.6%), Russia (estimated at -11.5%), South Korea (-12.1%) and the US (-8.9%).
World crude steel production in the first ten months of 2022 was 3.4% lower than in the same period last year while China’s output over the same period fell 2.3%.
