Figures released by the International Iron and Steel Institute show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 119.5 million tonnes in March 2008 — 5.8% higher than for the same month of 2007, and 11.0% higher than the previous month (February 2008).
|
World Steel Production, March '08
|
|
Region
|
% of March '08 Total
|
Change vs. March '07
|
|
EU (27)
|
15.6%
|
-2.3%
|
|
Other EU
|
2.4%
|
+7.4%
|
|
CIS
|
9.4%
|
+5.4%
|
|
N. America
|
9.7%
|
+2.3%
|
|
S. America
|
3.6%
|
+4.9%
|
|
Africa
|
1.4%
|
+7.5%
|
|
Middle East
|
1.2%
|
+13.3%
|
|
Asia
|
56.0%
|
+8.8%
|
|
Oceania
|
0.7%
|
+5.9%
|
|
World
|
--
|
+5.8%
|
Excluding China, world production grew by just 2.6% in March compared to March 2007, but grew by 8.5% compared to the previous month (February 2008).
For the first three months of 2008, total world crude steel production reached 340.7 million tonnes, a 5.6% increase over the first quarter of 2007. Of that 340.7-million-tonne first quarter total, China produced 124.9 million tonnes of crude steel (36.6% of the first-quarter total), an increase of 8.6% compared to the same period in 2007.
Weighing in at 56.0% of total world production for March 2008, production in Asia stood at 66.9 million tonnes in March, 8.8% higher than in March 2007. Representing 37.5% of world production for March, Chinese production was reported at 44.9 million tonnes in March, an 11.5% increase compared to March 2007, and a 15.4% increase compared to the previous month (February 2008). However, China’s moving annual total (MAT) growth rate slowed further in March 2008, to 11.5%, compared to its MAT growth rate of 21% in March 2007.
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 18.6 million tonnes of crude steel in March, 2.3% less than in March 2007. Comparing March 2008 to March 2007, crude steel production increased by 10.8% in Slovenia (nearly half of this country’s 20.4% rate of increase for the previous month), but fell by 17.0% in Bulgaria, by 11.4% in France, and by 10.1% in Hungary. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 15.6% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.9 million tonnes in March, an increase of 7.4% compared to March 2007. Macedoniashowed the largest increase (+18.2%), followed by Switzerland (+14.9%), while production fell by 23.1% in Norway. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.4% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 11.3 million tonnes in March, reflecting a 5.4% increase compared to March 2007. Moldova reported the largest increase (+10.5%) and Kazakhstan reported the largest decrease (–10.2%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 9.4% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
North American production totaled 11.6 million tonnes in March, a 7.2% increase compared to March 2007. Comparing March 2008 to March 2007, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Mexico (+5.0%) and Canada (+4.8%), while production grew by 2.1% in the U.S. over the same period. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 9.7% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
South American production for March 2008 totaled 4.3 million tonnes, a 4.9% increase compared to March 2007. The largest percentage increases took effect in Peru (+21.6%), while Paraguay (–18.6%) logged the greatest percentage decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.6% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
Production in Africa totaled 1.7 million tonnes in March 2008, a 7.5% increase compared to March 2007. Comparing March 2008 to March 2007, the most significant percentage increase took effect in Egypt (+35.9%, which follows a 34.4% increase the previous month), while production fell most significantly in Algeria (–47.6%) over the same period. The African countries contributed 1.4% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.5 million tonnes in March 2008, a 13.3% increase compared to March 2007. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.2% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.79 million tonnes in March, a 5.9% increase compared to March 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed nearly 0.7% of the total reported world production in March 2008.
Total world production for March increased 11.0% compared to the previous month, February 2008.