Worldsteel published April, 2022 world crude steel production yesterday. World crude steel output was 162.7 million metric tonnes, 5.1% lower than in April, 2021.
China produced 92.8 million tonnes in April, accounting for 57% of world output and falling 5.2% on April, 2021. In other parts of Asia, Indian crude steel production rose 6.2%, but Japanese production fell 4.4% and South Korean output fell 4.1%.
European Union 27 countries production fell 5.4% on last April following a 1.1% decline in Germany. North American production fell 5.1% with US output down 3.9%. Other significant changes compared to last April include declines in Iran (-20.7%) and Brazil (-4.0%).
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports rose 23% from 289,000 short tons in April, 2021 to 356,000 tons last month. Wire rod imports again drove the increase with volumes rising from Algeria, India and Egypt.
Long products imports in the first four months of 2022 were 41% higher than in the same period last year with the highest volume increases coming from wire rod (+92%), rebar (+9%) and parallel flange sections (+42%).
US long products import licenses
January 2015 to April 2022
Short tons
Reinforcement cage for bore hole at construction site Munich Garmischer Strasse for the southwest tunnel project, 2010 by Usien, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports rose 10% from 703,000 short tons in April, 2021 to 773,000 tons in April, 2022. The increase was mainly due to higher hot dip galvanized imports from Vietnam, Turkey, and South Africa. Cold rolled imports also rose significantly April-on-April due to higher volumes from Australia and Mexico.
Based on January to March imports and April import licenses, US flat products imports in the first four months of 2022 were 37% higher than in the same period last year with hot dip galvanized +47%, cold rolled +59%, hot rolled +26%, and cut plate +8%.
Steel Import Monitor US Flat Products Import Licenses
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 88.3 million metric tonnes, 6.4% lower than in March, 2021. Chinese production in the first three months of 2022 was 9.2% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from the General Administration of Customs show China’s net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in March at 3.9 million tonnes, 37% lower than in March, 2021. Net finished steel exports over the first three months of 2022 were 29% lower than in the same period last year.
China produced 88.3 million tonnes in March, accounting for 55% of world output and falling 6.4% on March, 2021. In other parts of Asia, Indian crude steel production rose 4.4% but Japanese production fell 4.3% and South Korean output fell 6.1%.
European Union 27 countries production fell 8.5% on last March following an 11.8% decline in Germany. North American production fell 2.8% with US output down 1.7%. Other significant changes compared to last March include a rise in Brazil (+5.4%), but declines in Russia (-1.8%), Turkey (-2.9%) and Iran (-6.1%).
“Gantry Crane for lifting steel slabs at Avilés, Spain. It is situated at the exit of the Avilés steelshop” by Borvan53, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Based on reported import licenses, US long steel products imports rose 63% from 313,000 short tons in March, 2021 to 510,000 tons last month. Wire rod imports drove the increase, with import volumes more than doubling year-on-year due to higher volumes mainly from Malaysia, but also from India, Mexico, Vietnam, and Egypt.
Long products imports in the first three months of 2022 were 50% higher than in the same period last year with the highest volume increase coming from wire rod (+101%), rebar (+20%), and parallel flange sections (+48%).
