Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 80.3 million metric tonnes in November, 4.0% higher than in November 2018. China’s output over the first eleven months of 2019 was 7.2% higher than in the same period last year.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in November at 3.5 million tonnes, 16.9% lower than in November 2018. Net exports in the first eleven months of 2019 were 5.9% lower than in the first eleven months of 2018.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
“Photo of the construction site of Beijing subway line 15, taken from Hongchang Road near the planned “Wangjing” station” from Wikimedia Commons by YYK [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
China accounted for 54% of world production in November with output of 80.3 million tonnes, 4.0% higher than in November 2018. Asian production outside of China fell 4.9% on last November due to declines in Japan (-10.6%), Taiwan (-14.8%), India (-2.8%), and Thailand (-26.9%).
European Union production fell 10.7% compared to November 2018 on declines in Germany (-12.9%), France (-18.2%), and Italy (-9.8%). In the Americas, production also fell in the main steel-producing countries including the US (-2.2%), Brazil (-10.5%), Mexico (-7.7%) and Canada (-6.9%). Other significant changes around the world include a 20.1% production decline in Ukraine and a 8.1% drop in Turkey.
” Beijing National Aquatics Centre and Beijing National Stadium (background)” from Wikimedia Commons by Angus [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 27% year-on-year from 247,000 short tons in November 2018 to 180,000 tons in November this year. The decline was mainly due to lower wire rod imports from Germany, South Korea, Canada and Greece.
Based on January to October imports and November import licenses, long products imports in the first eleven months of 2019 were 8% lower than in the same period last year. Imports of all products declined except imports of all other structural shapes, which rose 22%. The products with the highest decline in import volumes were wire rod (-9%), rebar (-7%), and merchant bar (-34%).
SIMA US long products import licenses
January 2013 to November 2019
Short tons
“Cross junction in the northwest corner of the Loop in Chicago (Tower 18) ” from Wikimedia Commons by I, Daniel Schwen [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 32% from 766,000 short tons in November 2018 to 524,000 tons in November this year. The decline was mainly due to lower hot rolled imports from Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. Hot dip galvanized imports also fell significantly from Mexico, South Korea, and Vietnam.
Based on January to October imports and November import licenses, flat products imports in the first eleven months of 2019 were 23% lower than in the same period last year. Hot rolled imports dropped by the highest volume (-29%), followed by hot dip galvanized (-20%), cold rolled (-21%), and cut plate (-14%).
SIMA flat products import licenses
Janaury 2013 to November 2019
Short tons
Image 2005 of electric arc furnace at Georgsmarienhütte GmbH at Georgsmarienhütte, Germany from Wikimedia Commons by GMH official [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 81.5 million metric tonnes in October, 0.6% lower than in October 2018. Chinese output over the first ten months of 2019 was 7.6% higher than in the same period last year.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in October at 3.8 million tonnes, 14.6% lower than in October 2018. Net exports in the first ten months of 2019 were 4.9% lower than in the first ten months of 2018.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
Image “Rolling Stock of Wuhan Metro Line 11” from Wikimedia Commons by Painjet [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
China accounted for 54% of world production in October with output of 81.5 million tonnes, 0.6% lower than in October 2018. Asian production outside of China fell 3.4% on last October due to declines in Japan (-4.9%), India (-3.4%), South Korea (-3.5%), and Taiwan (-9.8%).
European Union production fell 8.7% compared to October 2018, with Europe’s largest producer, Germany, down 6.8%. In the Americas, both US and Canadian crude steel production fell 2.0% while Mexican output fell 3.6% and Brazilian output dropped by 19.4%. Other significant changes around the world include a 15.0% drop in Turkey and a 12.7% decline in Ukraine.
Image of galvanized steel beams from Wikimedia Commons by Trissi1234 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
