Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 85.0 million metric tonnes in April, 12.7% higher than in April 2018. Chinese output over the first four months of 2019 was 10.3% higher than in the same period last year.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in April at 5.3 million tonnes, 1.9% lower than in April 2018. Net exports in the first four months of 2019 were 13.6% higher than in the first four months of 2018.
China monthly crude steel production 2006 to 2019
Thousand metric tonnes
A worker checks rolled steel sheet at HBIS Tangsteel Photo from Worldsteel Image Library by worldsteel / Shawn Koh, Image ID 717
China accounted for 54% of world output in April with production of 85.0 million tonnes, 12.7% higher than in April 2018. Asian output outside of China rose 0.4% with Vietnam production up 35.6%.
European Union production fell 4.2% compared to last April due to declines in Germany (-8.7%), Italy (-5.7%), and France (-8.1%). In the CIS, Russian output fell 8.3% but Ukaine production rose 12.6%. In North America, US production rose 7.3%, Canadian output rose 1.0%, and Mexican production fell 8.2%.
Blast furnace 6 at Novolipetsk (NLMK Group) Photo from Worldsteel Image Library by worldsteel / Robert Kolykhalov, Image ID 523
Based on reported import licenses, US long steel products imports fell 37% from 427,000 short tons in April 2018 to 270,000 in April 2019. The drop was mainly due to lower rebar and parallel flange sections imports. However, wire rod import licenses in April 2019 were 38% higher than April 2018 imports, offsetting declines in other product categories.
Based on January to March imports and April import licenses, long products imports in the first four month of 2019 were 11% lower than in the same period last year, with imports of all products categories declining except for wire rod, which rose 10%.
Based on reported import licenses, US flat steel products imports rose 8% from 622,000 short tons in February to 671,000 tons in March. Compared to March import licenses, April licenses rose 4% to 696,000 tons, mainly due to higher hot roll licenses from Japan and higher cut plate licenses from South Korea.
Based on January/February imports and March/April import licenses, flat products imports so far this year are 20% lower than in the first four months of 2018, with imports of hot roll down 23%, hot dip galvanized down 17%, cold roll down 23%, and cut plate up 2%.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 80.3 million metric tonnes in March, 10.0% higher than in March 2018. Chinese output over the first three months of 2019 was 9.5% higher than in the same period last year.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in March at 5.4 million tonnes, 22.8% higher than in March 2018. Net exports in the first three months of 2019 were 20.8% higher than in the first three months of 2018.
China monthly crude steel production 2006 to 2019
thousand metric tonnes
Photo of the Harbin Grand Theatre by Jeremy Thompson from Los Angeles, California [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
China accounted for 52% of world output in March with production of 80.3 million tonnes, 10.0% higher than in March 2018. Asian output outside of China remained steady, rising 0.8% March-on-March, though a 48.9% rise in Vietnam was offset by declines in Thailand, Pakistan, and India.
European Union production fell 1.2% between March 2018 and March 2019, with Belgian output down a significant 25%. In other parts of Europe and the Middle East, Turkish production fell (-11.7%), as did Russian production (-6.9%), but Ukraine output rose (+15.0%). In North America, US production rose 5.7%, Canadian production was up 3.4%, but Mexican output fell 3.8%. In addition, Iranian crude steel production rose 19.7% year-on-year.
Photo of Houston skyline by Henry Han [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
