China produced 85.9 million tonnes in April, accounting for 55% of world output and declining 7.2% compared to April, 2023. Asian production outside China accounted for 19% of world production and fell 1.4% on last April, mainly due to a 10.4% production decline in South Korea.
North American production fell 5.2% following a 2.8% decline in the US, and Middle East production fell 8.2% following a 12.3% drop in Iran.
“A train carrying what seems to be an unlimited number of coils rolls into downtown Springfield, MO” by Doug Wertman from Rogers, AR, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports rose 18% from 358,000 short tons in April, 2023 to 421,000 tons in April, 2024. The rise was mainly due to higher rebar imports, with volumes increasing from Oman, Algeria, Germany, Greece and Canada. Interestingly, rebar imports fell by 11% compared to last April, but this was because the decline in Algerian imports was mostly offset by a rise in Egyptian imports.
US long products imports in the first four months of 2024 were 6% higher than in the same period last year. The increase was mainly due to higher wire rod imports, which were partially offset by lower rebar imports.
In Episode 12 of The Green Steel Challenge, Gunnar Groebler, CEO of Salzgitter Group in Germany, tells us all about how Salzgitter developed its transition strategy to decarbonize steelmaking production by 2033. The decision-making process started in 2016, they started construction in 2022, and they’re clearly a European leader in replacing blast furnaces with DRI production and electric arc furnaces.
The podcasts are produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities and the discussion is all about how exactly we can deliver Green Steel. Tune in!
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports increased 45% from 551,000 short tons in April, 2023 to 798,000 tons in April, 2024. Imports of all flat product categories increased, but the highest volume climb came from hot dip galvanized due to imports from Vietnam, Mexico, Germany, Canada, and South Korea. Cold roll imports were close to doubling on last April due to volumes from Australia, Canada, Vietnam, and Mexico.
US flat products imports in the first four months of 2024 were 26% higher than in the same period last year. Comparing the first four months of 2023 to 2024, imports rose for cut plate by 32%, for hot roll by 12%, for cold roll by 40%, and for hot dip galvanized by 38%.
Mario Arvedi Caldonazzo, CEO of Arvedi Group in Cremona, Italy, explains how a family-owned company in Northern Italy became not only the only real flat products minimill in Europe, but also the first steelmaker in the world to receive carbon neutral certification.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 88.3 million metric tonnes in March, 7.8% lower than in March, 2023. Chinese production in the first three months of 2024 was 4.0% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in March at 9.3 million tonnes, 29% higher than in March, 2023. Finished steel exports in Q1 2024 were 32% higher than in Q1 2023.
