Global crude steel production increased by 3.4% in 2019

Global crude steel production reached 1,869.9 million tons (Mt) in 2019, up 3.4% compared to 2018. Crude steel production contracted in all regions in 2019 except Asia and the Middle East.

Asia recorded 1,341.6 Mt of steel in 2019, an increase of 5.7% compared to 2018.

China‘s steel production in 2019 reached 996.3 Mt, up 8.3% from 2018. China‘s share of global steel production increased from 50.9% in 2018 to 53.3% in 2019.

In India, steel production for 2019 was 111.2 Mt, up 1.8% compared to 2018.

Japan produced 99.3 Mt in 2019, up 4.8% from 2018. While in South Korea, 71.4 Mt of steel were made in 2019, a decrease of 1.4% compared to 2018.

Crude steel production declines in Europe

In Europe, the negative trend in steel demand in 2019 affected domestic producers. New EU import quota regulations have also disrupted the stagnant steel market in the region.

The EU produced 159.4 Mt of crude steel in 2019, a decrease of 4.9% compared to 2018.

Germany had a production of 39.7 Mt steel in 2019, registering a decrease of 6.5% in 2018. Italy produced 23.2 Mt in 2019, 5.2% less than in 2018. France recorded a production of 14.5 Mt of crude steel, a decrease of 6.1% compared to 2018. In the same period, Spain reported 13.6 Mt of crude steel, 5.2% less than in 2018.

The largest producers of crude steel

Steel production in North America was 120.0 Mt in 2019, 0.8% lower than in 2018. Under these conditions, the US produced 87.9 Mt of crude steel, up 1.5% in 2018.

The figures for the CIS show a production of 100.4 Mt, registering a decrease of 0.5%. Russia produced 71.6 Mt of crude steel in 2019, 0.7% less than in 2018. In Ukraine, there was a production of 20.8 Mt of crude steel in 2019, a decrease of 1.2% compared to 2018.

In the Middle East, 45.3 Mt of crude steel were produced in 2019, an increase of 19.2% compared to 2018.

Annual crude steel production for South America was 41.2 Mt in 2019, down 8.4% from 2018. Brazil produced 32.2 Mt in 2019, down 9.0% from 2018.

Meanwhile, steel production in Turkey for 2019 was 33.7 Mt, down 9.6% compared to 2018.