World Steel Production Stabilizes in August

Global steel production totaled 134.1 million metric tons during August, rising only 0.2% from the July result and 1.95% more than the August 2015 figure. Global raw-steel capacity utilization during August was just 68.5%, just 0.1% higher than the utilization rate for July, and 0.5% less than the rate during August 2015.

Robert Brooks

Sept. 22, 2016

2 min read

Steel production worldwide totaled 134.1 million metric tons during August, rising only slightly (0.2%) from the July result and a bit higher (1.95%) than the August 2015 figure. Global raw-steel capacity utilization during August was just 68.5%, just 0.1% higher than the utilization rate for July, and 0.5% less than the rate during August 2015.

The data is drawn from the monthly summary issued by the World Steel Association, which tracks steel production and capacity utilization rates across its 66 member nations.

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China’s steel industry continues to be the world’s largest, and a centralized strategy to eliminate excess capacity there and consolidate ownership there seems to have paused, for now.

Raw (or crude) steel is the output of basic oxygen furnaces and electric arc furnaces that is cast into semi-finished products, such as slabs, blooms, or billets. The World Steel Association reports tonnage and capacity utilization data for carbon and carbon alloy steel in 66 countries; data for production of stainless and specialty alloy steels are not included.

The relative stability indicated by the August production totals is noteworthy, coming after several months of falling output. Earlier this year, World Steel issued an outlook report predicting that the final 2016 raw steel production totals would show a year-on-year (-0.8%) decline in global steel demand. It forecast this year’s total raw steel production would be 1.488 billion metric tons, following last year’s -3.0% annual decline global steel production (1.62 billion metric tons.)

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About the Author

Robert Brooks

Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others. Currently, he specializes in subjects related to metal component and product design, development, and manufacturing — including castings, forgings, machined parts, and fabrications.

Brooks is a graduate of Kenyon College (B.A. English, Political Science) and Emory University (M.A. English.)