Jan 22 2009
World crude steel production reached 1,329.7 million metric tons for the year of 2008. This is a decrease of -1.2% compared to 2007. 2008 is the second consecutive year that world steel production has been over 1,300 mmt.
Steel production declined in nearly all the major steel producing countries and regions including the EU, North America, South America and the CIS in 2008. However, Asia, in particular China, and the Middle East showed positive growth in 2008. Worldwide steel production has shown an acceleration of negative growth from September to 2008 year end. World crude steel output for December 2008 recorded a decrease of -24.3% compared to 2007.
China became the first country ever to produce more than 500 mmt in one year. China’s crude steel production in 2008 reached 502 mmt, an increase of 2.6% on 2007. Production volume in China has more than doubled within five years, from 222 mmt in 2002. China’s share of world steel production continued to grow in 2008 producing 38% of world total crude steel.
Asia produced 770 mmt of crude steel in 2008, 58% of world total steel production, 1.9% growth over 2007. South Korea and India recorded increases of 3.8% and 3.7% respectively. Japan produced 118 mmt in 2008, a decrease of -1.2% on 2007.
The EU-27 produced 199 mmt of crude steel in 2008 recording a decrease of -5.3% compared to 2007. Major steel producing countries including Germany, Italy and France recorded reductions.
In 2008, steel production in North America also decreased by -5.5% over 2007. The US produced 91 mmt of crude steel, a decrease of -6.8%.
Overall, the CIS showed a decrease of -8.1% in 2008. Russia produced 69 mmt of crude steel, a -5.4% reduction over 2007 while Ukraine recorded a decrease of -13.1% with year-end figures of 37 mmt.
Figure 2. Share of world crude steel production 2007, 2008
Table 1. Top 10 steel-producing countries
|
Country
|
Rank
|
2008
|
2007
|
% 08/07
|
|
China
|
1
|
502.0
|
489.2
|
2.6
|
|
Japan
|
2
|
118.7
|
120.2
|
-1.2
|
|
United States
|
3
|
91.5
|
98.2
|
-6.8
|
|
Russia
|
4
|
68.5
|
72.4
|
-5.4
|
|
India
|
5
|
55.1
|
53.1
|
3.7
|
|
South Korea
|
6
|
53.5
|
51.5
|
3.8
|
|
Germany
|
7
|
45.8
|
48.6
|
-5.6
|
|
Ukraine
|
8
|
37.1
|
42.8
|
-13.4
|
|
Brazil
|
9
|
33.7
|
33.8
|
-0.2
|
|
Italy
|
10
|
30.5
|
31.5
|
-3.4
|
Source: World Steel Association