Worldsteel reported Chinese crude steel production at 68.5 million metric tonnes in October, 4.0% higher than in October 2015. Chinese crude steel output in the first ten months of 2016 was 0.9% higher than in the same period last year.
China’s net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in October were 6.6 million tonnes, 18.0% lower than in October 2015. The first ten months of 2016 recorded net exports 0.6% higher than in the first ten months of 2015.
China monthly crude steel production
January 2005 to October 2016
thousand metric tonnes
Worldsteel published October’s world crude steel production on November 21st. World crude steel output was 136.5 million metric tonnes, 3.3% higher than in October 2015. World crude steel production in the first ten months of 2016 was the same as in the first ten months of 2015.
China accounted for 50% of world output in October with production of 68.5M tonnes, up 4.0% compared to October 2015. Elsewhere in Asia, Indian output rose 12.3% year-on-year, and Taiwanese production rose 9.9%. European Union production was flat over the same period, rising 0.3%, following increases in Italy/Belgium/France and declines in the UK/Spain/Germany. Turkish output rose 8.6% compared to last October while in the Americas, Brazilian production fell 8.8%, Mexican output rose 21.7% and US production fell 2.5%.
All the data for October 2016 and for a number of prior years can be found in the Nerds downloadable spreadsheet below.
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports were little changed in October, rising 3% from 403,000 short tons in September to 414,000 tons. Long products imports in October 2015 were 531,000 tons and in 2014 they were 494,000 tons. Longs imports in the first ten months of 2016 were 2% higher than in the same period last year, with increases coming from rebar and wire rod and declines coming from all other structural shapes and merchant bar. The 3% increase between September and October was due to higher wire rod, parallel flange sections, and all other structural shapes imports, and despite a fall in rebar imports from Turkey and Taiwan.
SIMA US long products import licenses and actuals
2012 to 2016
short tons
Keeping up with the current antidumping and countervailing duties on steel products entering the US can be difficult. We’ve put together a list which you can download – see table below. It is organized into three product categories: flat rolled products, long products, and pipe & tube. I’ve tried to include the most recent decisions, but if I’ve left anything out, please let me know and I’ll update the spreadsheet.
Rounding out Q3 earnings, we now have results from ArcelorMittal, Gerdau, and Ternium. ArcelorMittal’s EBITDA per ton was basically unchanged at $78 in Q3 vs. $77 in Q2. Gerdau reported a slight improvement in EBITDA per ton (to $89 from $77) on lower shipments, while Ternium saw a big jump in EBITDA per ton, from $137 in Q2 to $194 in Q3.
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports rose 4% from 904,000 short tons in September to 943,000 tons in October. Flat products imports in October 2015 were 930,000 tons and in October 2014 they were 1,538,000 tons. Imports of flat products for the first ten months of 2016 were 21% lower than in the same period last year.
Hot dip galvanized imports rose significantly from Turkey, Brazil and India while cold roll imports rose from Turkey and India.
SIMA US import licenses and actuals, flat products
January 2013 to October 2016
short tons
