Global Crude Steel Output Inches Higher in January

Steel

Global crude steel production edged up by 2.1% year-on-year to 154.4 Mt in January, according to provisional data from the World Steel Association.

Chinese crude steel production was estimated at 84.3 Mt last month, up from 78.6 Mt in January 2019. Output in Japan inched up by 1.3% on the year to 8.2 Mt. However, January crude steel production elsewhere in Asia was mostly lower, with Indian production at 9.3 Mt (-3.2% on the year) and South Korean volumes at 5.8 Mt (-8.0% year-on-year).

Elsewhere, EU28 crude steel output dropped by 12.0% from January 2019 to 12.3 Mt, while Brazilian production fell to 2.7 Mt last month (-11.1% year-on-year).