Worldsteel published July world crude steel production today. World steel output was 152.7 million metric tonnes, 2.5% lower than in July 2019. Crude steel production in the first seven months of 2020 was 5.0% lower than in the same period last year.
China accounted for 61% of world production in July. Chinese production was 93.4 million tonnes, 9.1% higher than in July 2019. Asian output outside of China fell 18.1%, due mainly to a 24.6% drop in India and a 27.9% decline in Japan.
European Union crude steel production fell 24.4% on last July with countries showing the largest volume declines including Germany (-24.7%), Italy (-11.2%), France (-34.5%) and Poland (-21.8%). In North America, US production fell 29.4%, while Canadian output dropped 24.5% and Mexican output was down 22.6%. Other significant changes worldwide include a 7.4% increase in Turkey and a 14.4% rise in Iran.
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 6% from 279,000 short tons in July 2019 to 261,000 tons in July this year. The decline was mainly due to lower wire rod licenses from Brazil and Japan, but was partially offset by higher rebar licenses from Turkey.
Based on January to June imports and July import licenses, long products imports so far this year were 18% lower than in the same period last year with the largest import volume declines coming from wire rod (-35%) and parallel flange sections (-42%).
SIMA US long products import licenses
January 2014 to July 2020
Short tons
Wire rod production at ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih from Wikimedia Commons by ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 20% from 666,000 short tons in July 2019 to 534,000 tons in July this year. Hot rolled import licenses fell by the largest volume on last year’s actuals (-75,000 tons), followed by cut plate imports (-36,000 tons).
Based on January to June imports and July import licenses, US flat products imports in the first seven months of 2020 were 20% lower than in the same period last year with cut plate imports down 46%, cold rolled imports down 21%, hot rolled imports down 20%, and hot dip galvanized imports down 14%.
SIMA US flat products import licenses
January 2014 to July 2020
Short tons
Sheet steel being cold rolled at HBIS Tangsteel from Worldsteel Image Library by HBIS Group Co. Ltd.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China of 91.6 million metric tonnes in June, 4.5% higher than in June 2019. Chinese production in the first six months of 2020 was 2.2% higher than in the same period last year.
Data from the General Administration of Customs show Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in June were 1.8 million tonnes, 58.2% lower than in June 2019. Net exports in the first six months of 2020 were 25.3% lower than in the same period last year.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
Three Gorges Dam (Hubei Province, China) under construction, 2002, from Wikimedia Commons by lienyuan lee / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)
Worldsteel published June world crude steel production yesterday. World steel output was 148.3 million metric tonnes, 7.0% lower than in June 2019. Crude steel production in the first six months of 2020 was 5.5% lower than in the same period last year.
China accounted for 62% of world output in June. Chinese production was 91.6 million tonnes, 4.5% higher than in June 2019. Asian output outside of China fell 23.3%, due mainly to a 36.3% decline in Japan and a 26.3% drop in India.
European Union crude steel production fell 24.6% on last June with significant declines in Germany (-27.3%), France (34.9%), and Spain (-31.5%). In the Americas, production fell 34.5% in the US, 30.8% in Canada, 21.4% in Mexico, and 27.1% in Brazil.
Casting steel billet at Gerdau Ouro Branco steel plant in Brazil from Worldsteel Image Library by worldsteel / Javier Bernal Revert
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 25% from 261,000 short tons in June 2019 to 197,000 tons in June this year. The decline was mainly due to lower wire rod and parallel flange sections imports. Compared to June 2019 imports, June 2020 wire rod import licenses fell significantly from Malaysia and Japan, while parallel flange sections licenses fell from Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates.
Based on January to May imports and June import licenses, long products imports so far this year were 19% lower than in the same period last year with the largest import volume declines coming from wire rod (-32%), parallel flange sections (-41%), and rebar (-9%).
SIMA US long products imports licenses
January 2014 to June 2020
Short tons
Construction of the cable-stayed tower span of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, Tarrytown, New York, USA from Wikimedia Commons by Acroterion / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
