World crude steel production reached 1,607 megatonnes (Mt) for the year 2013, up by 3.5% compared to 2012. The growth came mainly from Asia and Middle East while crude steel production in all other regions decreased in 2013 compared to 2012. 

Annual production for Asia was 1,080.9Mt of crude steel in 2013, an increase of 6.0% compared to 2012. The region’s share of world steel production increased slightly from 65.7% in 2012 to 67.3% in 2013. China’s crude steel production in 2013 reached 779.0 Mt, an increase of 7.5% on 2012. China’s share of world crude steel production increased from 46.7% in 2012 to 48.5% in 2013. Japan produced 110.6 Mt in 2013, a 3.1% increase from 2012. South Korea’s crude steel production was 66.0 Mt, a decrease of -4.4% compared to 2012.

The EU recorded a decrease of -1.8% compared to 2012, producing 165.6 Mt of crude steel in 2013. Germany produced 42.6 Mt of crude steel in 2013, remaining at the same production level as 2012. Italy produced 24.1 Mt in 2013, a -11.7% decrease over 2012. France’s crude steel production in 2013 was 15.7 Mt, an increase of 0.5%. Spain produced 13.7 Mt of crude steel in 2013, a 0.7% increase on 2012.

In 2013, crude steel production in North America was 119.3 Mt, a decrease of -1.9% on 2012. The US produced 87.0 Mt of crude steel, down by -2.0% compared to 2012.

The CIS showed a decrease of -1.8% in 2013, producing 108.9 Mt of crude steel. Russia produced 69.4 Mt of crude steel, a decrease of -1.5% on 2012 and Ukraine recorded a decrease of -0.5% with a year-end figure of 32.8 Mt.

Annual crude steel production for South America was 46.0 Mt in 2013, a decrease of -0.8% on 2012. Brazil produced 34.2 Mt in 2013, down by -1.0% compared to 2012.

In December 2013, world crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 129.2Mt, an increase of 6.3% compared to December 2012. The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 65 countries in December 2013 declined to 74.2% from 75.8% in November 2013. It is 2.2 percentage points higher than December 2012. The average capacity utilisation in 2013 was 78.1% compared to 76.2% in 2012.

source from World Steel