Data published by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) show that global stainless crude steel production rose 15.1 percent year on year to 7.6 million metric tons (mt) in the first quarter of 2007.
Major increases in production were seen in Eastern Europe and the Americas. Asia and Western Europe/Africa showed almost no change in production volume.
Asia, driven by China, takes the lead with a production increase of 25.2 percent. Central and Eastern Europe also show a strong increase.
Stainless crude steel production (in ‘000 metric tons)
Region |
Quarter 1 |
+/- % y-o-y |
|
2006 |
2007 |
||
2.427 |
2.539 |
4.6 |
|
Central/Eastern Europe |
83 |
99 |
18.4 |
Americas |
722 |
749 |
3.8 |
Asia |
3.348 |
4.191 |
25.2 |
World total |
6.581 |
7.577 |
15.1 |