India beats Japan to emerge second largest steel maker

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 131.8 million tonnes (Mt) in February 2018, a 3.5% increase compared to February 2017.

China’s* crude steel production for February 2018 was 64.9 Mt, an increase of 5.9% compared to February 2017. India produced 8.4 Mt of crude steel in February 2018, up 3.4% on February 2017. Japan produced 8.3 Mt of crude steel in February 2018, down 0.5% on February 2017. South Korea’s crude steel production for February 2018 was 5.4 Mt, down 2.1% on February 2017.

In the EU, Italy’s crude steel production for February 2018 was 2.1 Mt, up by 4.5% on February 2017. France produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel in February 2018, an increase of 1.0%% compared to February 2017. Spain produced 1.1 Mt of crude steel in February 2018, an increase of 0.4% on February 2017.

Turkey’s crude steel production for February 2018 was 3.0 Mt, up by 8.7% on February 2017.

The US produced 6.4 Mt of crude steel in February 2018, a 0.4% increase on February 2017.

Brazil’s crude steel production for February 2018 was 2.7 Mt, up by 5.5% on February 2017.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries in February 2018 was 73.3%. This is 1.8 percentage points higher than February 2017. Compared to January 2018, it is 0.5 percentage points higher.

*China’s February production figure is a China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) estimate.

Source: Worldsteel