World crude steel production up 0.8% in January 2018 compared to 2017

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 139.4 million tonnes (Mt) in January 2018, a 0.8% increase compared to January 2017.

China’s* crude steel production for January 2018 was 67.0 Mt, a decrease of 0.9% compared to January 2017. Japan produced 9.0 Mt of crude steel in January 2018, up 0.3% on January 2017. India produced 9.0 Mt of crude steel in January 2018, up 2.5% on January 2017.

In the EU, Italy’s crude steel production for January 2018 was 2.0 Mt, up by 5.3% on January 2017. France produced 1.4 Mt of crude steel in January 2018, an increase of 3.0% compared to January 2017. Spain produced 1.1 Mt in January 2018, a decrease of 1.0% on January 2017.

Turkey’s crude steel production for January 2018 was 3.2 Mt, up by 7.6% on January 2017.

The US produced 6.8 Mt of crude steel in January 2018, a 2.2% decrease on January 2017.

Brazil’s crude steel production for January 2018 was 2.9 Mt, up by 1.3% on January 2017.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries in January 2018 was 70.0%. This is 0.2 percentage points lower than January 2017. Compared to December 2017, it is 0.7 percentage points higher.

*China’s January production figure is a worldsteel estimate.

Source: World Steel Association