Steel production declined in the first quarter of 2022

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 161.0 million tonnes in March. With a decrease of 5.8% compared to March 2021.

Global crude steel production was 456.6 million tons in the first three months of the year, down 6.8% compared to the same period in 2021.

Asia and Oceania produced 331.3 million tons of crude steel in the first quarter of the year. Production decreases by 7.8% compared to the previous year.

Down 3,8% year-on-year, the European Union (27) produced 36,8 million tonnes of crude steel in the first quarter of 2022.

The European steel market has been affected in recent months by the lack of demand from the automotive sector. Due to the continuous shortage of semiconductors and chips that limit the production of vehicles.

North American crude steel production during the reporting period was 28.1 million tonnes. A decrease of 0.9% compared to 2021.

Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, plus Ukraine, produced 24 million tons of crude steel in the first quarter of the year. With a decrease of 8.5% compared to the first quarter of 2021.

World production – crude steel – top ten steel-producing countries in March 2022

Leader in the top ten steel-producing countries, China produced 88.3 million tons in March. Down by 6.4% compared to the previous year.

India produced 10.9 million tons, up 4.4 percent, followed by Japan with eight million tons, down 4.3 percent. In fourth place in the top 10 is the US with a production of seven million tons, down 1.7%.

Russia is estimated to have produced 6.6 million tonnes, down 1.8%. And South Korea produced 5.7 million tons, down 6.1 percent.

An important decrease of 11.8% was recorded by Germany, which produced 3.3 million tons. Meanwhile, Turkey produced 3.3 million tonnes, down 2.9% from a year earlier. But 10% higher than the volume in February.

At No. 9 in the top 10, Brazil is estimated to have produced three million tons, up 5.4 percent. Iran, with 2.3 million tonnes, was down 6.1 percent from a year earlier.