Global crude steel output reaches a record level in 2003
As per the data published by International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI), global crude steel production reached 80.1 million mts in December, up by 7.7% compared to December 2002. Year-to-date production rose to 945.1 million mts which was 6.7% higher than 2002. China produced 20.2 million mts of crude steel in December with an increase by 28.7% compared to corresponding period in 2002. 2003 production in China reached 220.1 million mts, a new record for production by a single country. Asian crude steel production reached 38 million mts in December. This figure was 14.9% higher than December 2002. Year-to-date production in the region was 427.6 million mts. Japan was the second largest producer in this region with total production of 110.5 million mts in 2003. The crude steel production in EU amounted to 12.5 million mts in December, up by 2.7% when compared to 12.2 million mts recorded in the same period of last year. Total production for the other European countries was 4.1 million mts in December. This figure was 4.6% higher than the same period of 2002. Turkey produced 1.7 million mts of crude steel in December. This figure indicated a 11.5% increase against December 2002. Moreover, Turkey was the largest producer in the region with a 2003 production of 18.3 million mts. CIS produced 9 million metric tons of crude steel in December. Russian crude steel production increased by 2.2% to 5.2 million metric tons in December.
December November December %change 12 months
2003 2003 2002 Dec-03/02 2003 2002 %change
Other
Europe 4.118 3.975 3.937 4.6 48.471 45.014 7.7
EU (15) 12.511 13.943 12.187 2.7 159.760 158.567 0.8
C.I.S 9.010 8.842 8.602 4.7 105.887 99.908 6.0
N.America 10.020 10.143 10.103 -0.8 123.401 123.644 -0.2
S.America 3.441 3.516 3.460 -0.5 42.703 40.866 4.5
Africa 1.234 1.327 1.265 -2.4 16.066 15.692 2.4
MiddleEast 1.087 1.074 1.065 2.1 12.867 11.918 8.0
Asia 38.040 38.068 33.116 14.9 427.614 381.867 12.0
Ocenia 681 698 699 -2.5 8.372 8.292 1.0