Global crude steel output for 2005
China's 24.6 percent year on year growth in crude steel
production in 2005 helped pushed worldwide growth to 5.9 percent.
Data released by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) show that global crude steel
production amounted to 1.129 billion metric tons in 2005.
China with
production of 349.4 million metric tons raised its share in the world
production from 26.3 percent to 30.9 percent in 2005.
In
Japan, weaker steel demand from the public sector was compensated by improving private sector demand.
Japan's crude steel
production of 112.5 million metric tons was virtually unchanged from the previous year's level.
India's crude steel
production rose 16.7 percent year on year to 38.1 million metric tons due to the country's strong economic growth. Asia's total output rose 14.8 percent year on year to 583.8 million tons, more than half of the world total.
North American crude steel
production fell 7 million metric tons or 5.3 percent year on year to 127 million metric tons in 2005.
Brazil's crude steel
production fell 3.9 percent year on year to 31.6 million metric tons due to the inventory liquidation. Despite growth in
Argentina (4.8 percent) and
Venezuela (around 8.4 percent),
South America's total output fell 1.2 percent to 45.3 million metric tons.
High inventories also affected the European market negatively. Cutbacks by some producers reduced output in the EU 3.6 percent to 186.5 million metric tons.
In December alone, total world crude steel
production rose 3.8 percent year on year to 96 million metric tons.