Worldsteel published August world crude steel production today. World steel output was 156.2 million metric tonnes, 0.6% higher than in August 2019. Crude steel production in the first eight months of 2020 was 4.1% lower than in the same period last year.
China accounted for 61% of world output in August. Chinese production was 94.8 million tonnes, 8.4% higher than in August 2019. Asian output outside of China fell 6.6%, mainly due to a 20.6% decline in Japan.
European Union crude steel production fell 16.6% on last August with the largest volume declines coming from Germany (-13.4%), Spain (-32.5%), and France (-31.2%). In North America, US output fell 24.4%, Canadian production fell 25.7%, and Mexican production dropped 17.3%. Other significant changes to note compared to last August include an increase in Turkey (+22.9%), a rise in Iran (+14.6%), a decline in Saudi Arabia (-52.3%), a decline in India (-4.4%), and an increase in Vietnam (+32.9%).
BOF at ThyssenKrupp Duisburg, 2009, from Wikimedia Commons by Katpatuka / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
The U.S. Census Bureau trade data holds so much information that it is difficult to make sense of it. That’s why First River has organized the commodity codes into the major steel product categories and created this week’s Steel Data Room dataset of the week, “U.S. Trade by Commodity (HS), Custom Dataset, Monthly Update”.
Here’s where you can look up US exports and imports of all the major steel products from overall categories like flat rolled sheet to individual sub-categories like cold rolled electrogalvanized sheet. The data is available monthly in quantity and value, by trading partner country and even by US district.
Interested in taking a look? Try a free trial in the First River Steel Data Room.
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 35% from 268,000 short tons in August 2019 to 174,000 tons in August this year. The decline was mainly due to lower wire rod imports from Japan, India and South Korea, as well as lower parallel flange sections imports from South Korea.
Based on January to July imports and August import licenses, long products imports so far this year were 21% lower than in the same period last year with the largest import volume declines coming from wire rod (-36%) and parallel flange sections (-48%).
SIMA US long products import licenses
January 2014 to August 2020
Short tons
Steel beams in shipping yard, Nucor Steel Berkley, from Worldsteel Image Library by worldsteel / Roger Ball
Looking for world motor vehicle production statistics to predict steel consumption by the auto industry? Have a look at the Steel Data Room dataset of the week, “Car Production Statistics”.
This dataset has world car and commercial vehicle production statistics by country 1999-2019 from the OICA, the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
Looking for vehicles in use and sales data? The Steel Data Room has that information as well. Sign up for a free trial to easily create downloadable charts with all the steelmaking end-use data you are looking for.
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 24% year-on-year from 638,000 short tons in August 2019 to 487,000 tons last month. Hot rolled imports declined by the largest volume, down 27%, mainly due to lower volumes from Canada. Cold rolled imports declined by the second largest volume, down 33% due to lower volumes from Australia and Vietnam.
Based on January to July imports and August import licenses, US flat products imports in the first eight months of 2020 were 21% lower than in the same period last year with cut plate imports down 44%, hot rolled down 21%, cold rolled down 23%, and hot dip galvanized down 13%.
SIMA US flat products import licenses
January 2014 to August 2020
Short tons
“Loading coils”, October 2006, from Wikimedia Commons by LHOON from Mechelen, Belgium / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)
Along with trade in total iron and steel products in the chart below, you can also use the Steel Data Room to analyze trade in more specific steel products, such as semis, bars and rods, and sheets and plates. To see what data is available and how you can expertly download the results, try our free Steel Data Room trial.
