ISSF expects 5% increase in stainless crude steel output
The International
Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) expects global
stainless crude steel
production to increase 5% year on year to 25.8 million metric tons in 2005.
The 2005 forecast of ISSF showed a decrease of 100'000 metric tons compared to previously forecast.
Asia claimed the top spot as the largest
stainless steel producing area in the world. Asia's total
production rose 12% year on year to 11.9 million metric tons in 2004. In 2005, the region's
stainless crude steel
production is expected to reach 12.8 million metric tons, up 7.6% year on year.
The second largest
stainless producing area is Western
Europe/
Africa, despite strikes and adverse weather conditions negatively impacted
production in the first quarter of last year. The
stainless crude steel
production in this area will likely to increase 2.5% to 9.7 million metric tons.
The Americas'
production will up slightly from 2.9 million metric tons in 2004 to 3 million metric tons in 2005. This represents a year-on-year rise of 2.4%.
Growth in the Central and Eastern
Europe will also be flat in 2005. ISSF expects
production to increase 2% to 350'000 metric tons over the year.