China crude steel production was 68.8 million metric tonnes in April, 4.9% higher than in April 2013 and 1.3% higher on an average daily basis compared to March 2014. China’s year-to-April crude production was 269.9 million tonnes, which is 4.9% higher than year-to-April 2013 output.
China’s net finished steel exports in April were approximately 6.3 million tonnes, 48% higher than in April 2013. This volume is about 9% of the monthly crude output in April, the highest level we have seen since we started recording the data in January 2012 when net exports were 5% of monthly crude production.
China Monthly Crude Steel Production April 2004 to April 2014
(thousand metric tonnes)
Worldsteel published April’s global crude steel production on May 21st. World crude steel production was 137 million metric tonnes, 3% higher than in April 2013. Year-to-April production in 2014 was 4% higher than in the same period last year.
China continues to account for 50% of world production. Its output increased by 5% compared to April 2013, as did its year-to-April production compared to year-to-April 2013. Elsewhere in Asia, Indian production also increased by 5% April 2013 to April 2014, South Korean production by 11%, but Japan’s production fell 3%. In addition, production in the European Union countries increased by 4% April 2013 to April 2014, but US production fell 2%.
All the data for April 2014 and for a number of prior years can be viewed in the Nerds spreadsheet below.
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports rose 16% from 410,000 short tons in March to 449,000 tons in April. January-to-April imports in 2014 rose 63% compared to the same period last year.
Imports from all product categories except rebar increased. Wire rod imports drove the overall climb and were mainly due to volumes from China. However, the decline in rebar imports, here mostly from Turkey, was significant enough to mitigate the rise in other products.
I will update the graph below to show mid-May licenses when the license results are reported this week.
SIMA US import licenses and import actuals long products 2012-2014
short tons
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports rose 1% from 1,001,000 short tons in March to 1,010,000 tons in April. April flat products imports were 737,000 tons in 2013 and 914,000 tons in 2012. In addition, January-to-April 2014 flat products imports were 2,728,000 tons, 43% higher than January-to-April imports in 2013.
Though licenses show a 1% rise in imports compared to March 2014, on an individual product basis the changes were more significant. Hot rolled imports declined about 15% due mainly to lower volumes from Korea, Russia, the Netherlands, Australia and Japan, while cold rolled imports increased by about 35% due mainly to higher volumes from China.
I will update the chart below to show mid-May license data when the figures are published the week of May 19th.
SIMA US import licenses and actuals, flat products
April 2011 to April 2014
short tons
*October 2013 licenses incomplete due to US government shutdown
China crude steel production was 70.3 million metric tonnes in March, 6.0% higher than in March 2013 and the highest monthly output ever recorded. China’s year-to-March crude production was 4.9% higher in 2014 than it was in 2013. In addition, production rose 13% compared to February 2014 but due to the shorter month of February, average daily production increased by only 2.2%.
China’s net finished steel exports in March were 5.51 million tonnes, 36% higher than in March 2013. January-to-March net exports in 2014 were 32% higher than in 2013.
China Monthly Crude Steel Production March 2004 to March 2014
(thousand metric tonnes)
Worldsteel published March’s global crude steel production on April 22nd. World crude steel production was 141 million metric tonnes, 12% higher than in February and 5% higher than in March 2013.
China continues to account for 50% of total world production. Its output increased 13% in March compared to February and 6% between March 2013 and March 2014. Again compared to February, the European Union countries increased production by 11%, Russia by 12%, the United States by 9%, Japan by 15%, and South Korea by 16%. Germany as Europe’s largest producer showed a 13% rise compared to February and a 6% rise over March 2013.
All the data for March 2014 and for a number of prior years can be viewed in the Nerds spreadsheet below.
