Worldsteel published June world crude steel production yesterday. World steel output was 148.3 million metric tonnes, 7.0% lower than in June 2019. Crude steel production in the first six months of 2020 was 5.5% lower than in the same period last year.
China accounted for 62% of world output in June. Chinese production was 91.6 million tonnes, 4.5% higher than in June 2019. Asian output outside of China fell 23.3%, due mainly to a 36.3% decline in Japan and a 26.3% drop in India.
European Union crude steel production fell 24.6% on last June with significant declines in Germany (-27.3%), France (34.9%), and Spain (-31.5%). In the Americas, production fell 34.5% in the US, 30.8% in Canada, 21.4% in Mexico, and 27.1% in Brazil.
Casting steel billet at Gerdau Ouro Branco steel plant in Brazil from Worldsteel Image Library by worldsteel / Javier Bernal Revert
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 25% from 261,000 short tons in June 2019 to 197,000 tons in June this year. The decline was mainly due to lower wire rod and parallel flange sections imports. Compared to June 2019 imports, June 2020 wire rod import licenses fell significantly from Malaysia and Japan, while parallel flange sections licenses fell from Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates.
Based on January to May imports and June import licenses, long products imports so far this year were 19% lower than in the same period last year with the largest import volume declines coming from wire rod (-32%), parallel flange sections (-41%), and rebar (-9%).
SIMA US long products imports licenses
January 2014 to June 2020
Short tons
Construction of the cable-stayed tower span of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, Tarrytown, New York, USA from Wikimedia Commons by Acroterion / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 10% from 586,000 short tons in June 2019 to 527,000 tons in June this year. Cold rolled import licenses fell by the largest volume on last June’s actuals (-49,000 tons), followed by hot rolled imports (-42,000 tons) and cut plate (-13,000 tons). Hot dip galvanized import licenses, however, rose 45,000 on last June, mainly due to higher licenses from Brazil.
Based on January to May imports and June import licenses, US flat products imports in the first six months of 2020 were 19% lower than in the same period last year with cut plate imports down 44%, cold rolled imports down 22%, hot rolled imports down 19% and hot dip galvanized imports down 11%.
SIMA US flat products import licenses
January 2014 to June 2020
Short tons
“Innofreight Coil Palette” from Wikimedia Commons by Peatala36 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 92.3 million metric tonnes in May, 4.2% higher than in May 2019. Chinese production in the first five months of 2020 was 1.8% higher than in the same period last year.
Data from the General Administration of Customs show Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in May were 3.1 million tonnes, 34.4% lower than in May 2019. Net exports in the first five months of 2020 were 19.3% lower than in the same period last year.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
Sutong Bridge, Jiangsu, China from Wikimedia Commons by ANR2008 / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Worldsteel published May world crude steel production today. World steel output was 148.8 million metric tonnes, 8.7% lower than in May 2019. Crude steel production in the first five months of 2020 was 5.4% lower than in the same period last year.
As in April, China accounted for 62% of world output in May. Chinese production was 92.3 million tonnes, 4.2% higher than in May 2019. Asian output outside of China fell 26.5% due mainly to a 39.1% drop in India, a 31.8% fall in Japan, and a 14.1% decline in South Korea.
European Union crude steel production fell 26.8% on May 2019 with the largest volume declines coming from Italy (-43.6%), Germany (-18.9%), France (-36.5%) and Spain (-33.7%). In North America, US production fell 36.6%, Canadian output fell 19.6% and Mexican production fell 13.2%.
Other significant changes around the world compared to last May include declines in Turkey (-25.8%), Brazil (-22.6%), and South Africa (-95.1%).
Slabs at Novolipetsk (NLMK Group) from Worldsteel Image Library by worldsteel / Robert Kolykhalov
