World crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 133 million tons (Mt) in January 2015, a 2.9 percent decrease compared to January 2014.
China’s crude steel production for January 2015 was 65.5 Mt, a decrease of 4.7 percent compared to January 2014. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 9.0 Mt of crude steel in January 2015, a decrease of 4.0 percent compared to January 2014.
In the EU, Germany produced 3.7 Mt of crude steel in January 2015, an increase of 0.5 percent compared to January 2014. Italy produced 1.9 Mt of crude steel, down by 11.3 percent on January 2014. France’s crude steel production was 1.3 Mt, a decrease of -10.6 percent compared to January 2014. Spain produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel, up by 11.8 percent compared to January 2014.
Turkey’s crude steel production for January 2015 was 2.6 Mt, down by 10.4 percent on January 2014.
In January 2015, Russia produced 6.1 Mt of crude steel, up by 6.0 percent over January 2014. Ukraine produced 1.9 Mt of crude steel, down by 25.2 percent compared to the same month 2014.
The U.S. produced 7.4 Mt of crude steel in January 2015, an increase of 0.4 percent compared to January 2014.
Brazil’s crude steel production for January 2015 was 3.0 Mt, up by 7.7 percent on January 2014.
The crude steel capacity utilization ratio for the 65 countries in January 2015 was 72.5 percent. It is 4.4 percentage points lower than January 2014. Compared to December 2014, it is 0.4 percentage points lower.
Published in the April 2015 Edition of American Recycler News